Macombs Dam Park [II] / Heritage Park (former Yankee Stadium [I] site)

**MarcianoNY** · 07-01-2010, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by threeyoda

I actually agree with you, Heritage Field sounds like some team's minor league or spring training stadium. They should name it Stadium Field or Stadium Park like you said.

And yeah but one side is the original 70's parking garage, one is the new garage and the park, one is 161st, and then the subway.

I'd rather they named it after a famous Yankee who played there.... Pepitone Park has a nice ring to it! .... No, seriously, Lou Gehrig Field, Babe Ruth Field, etc, those would be much better than "Heritage Field."

**DN4L** · 07-01-2010, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by YankeeStadium1923

Looks like elements of Gate 2 may and should end up in the new proposed park on the existing Yankee Stadium site.

In the end it looks as if all who put forth the effort to Save Gate 2 may have accomplished something. Thumbs up to myself and others if this indeed becomes a reality.

Congrats, YS1923..
Like you said, at least your efforts came through to a certain extent..

**Paul W** · 07-01-2010, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by florida_yankee_fan

Maybe this was brought up previously but...If they plan on including an outline of the original Yankee Stadium field drawn with contrasting grass--why cant that just be the field--or why cant they just situate the actual infield there instead of having the overlap as shown in the renderings?

makes for too much dead space behind the new field backstop.
with other fields facing towards this one the maximum distance is needed for the outfield overlap.
these are supposed to be fields to be used, not a museum...

**Gary Dunaier** · 07-02-2010, 07:16 AM

Went up to the site after work yesterday. It was my first time there since May 17. Pictures to come later tonight, but meanwhile...

There's an "excavation" along the bleacher area, from left field to right.
Huge piles of dirt in the outfield near the bleachers, presumably dirt that was dug up to create the "excavation."
The area where Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremonies took place was still "marked" - that's not the most accurate word, there weren't any podiums or chairs or anything like that... but if you went to the site, having seen pictures of the ceremony, you'd say to yourself 'that's where it happened.'
There's a small hole in the blue construction fence, covered with plexiglass, where you can look in and get a street-level view of the site. It's on 157th Street near the Gate 6 site, almost across from the entrance to the 153rd Street Garage that's always open.
The skateboard park at River Avenue and 157th Street, diagonally across from Gate 6, is finished, open to the public, and looks to be a popular spot already.
The River Avenue Playground, also at River and 157th Street but directly across from Gate 6, is not open yet but appears to be nearing completion.
The bowling alley across the street from the site is closed, undergoing renovation.

**Robbyb26** · 07-02-2010, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by DN4L

Here's a photo from today's ceremony, that I found on the internet...

Insult to injury

**Paul W** · 07-02-2010, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

[*]The bowling alley across the street from the site is closed, undergoing renovation.[/LIST]

where are the embargoed bags and laptops being warehoused?

**florida_yankee_fan** · 07-02-2010, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Paul W

makes for too much dead space behind the new field backstop.
with other fields facing towards this one the maximum distance is needed for the outfield overlap.
these are supposed to be fields to be used, not a museum...

Yeah, but that's just it, Paul-it seems Heritage Field is being disigned to be a little bit of both. Maybe they could place a large "ny" insignia behind the backstop or find some other way to use that dead space. Or they can just leave it the way it is in the proposal minus the contrasting grass.It's just my opinion, but If they do go with an outline of grass-- which appears to overlap the main field--I'm not so sure how good that would look. Again, just my opinion, but I would think they'd go in one direction or the other-but not both.

**YankeeStadium1923** · 07-02-2010, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by RichardLillard1

The name change was suggested at a design commission hearing in February and erroneously reported as fact in a press release by The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium.

This was, in all likely hood, nothing more than a miscommunication, as the same hearing also delivered the final nail in the coffin for Gate 2 and the efforts to preserve it.

I have not seen anything beyond its mention at that hearing since then, including the final hearing for Heritage Field in April (might have been May, I'm not positive). So as it stands, we are likely looking at Heritage Field for a final name.

Richard

The Design Commission meeting was on April 26, 2010 when the Commissioners gave final approval to the Parks department for the proposed park on the existing Yankee Stadium site. No mention of the name change was discussed during that particular meeting.

At the February 22, 2010 meeting the Commissioners asked a representative from the Parks department if they had a problem with the name of the park being changed from Heritage Field to Old Yankee Stadium Park.

The Parks department replied that they had no objections to the name change as Heritage Field was only a "working name" for the project. No official confirmation or documentation supports the name change to Old Yankee Stadium Park.

My guess is the Park will be renamed at a later date. Whether Old Yankee Stadium Park is considered will have to be determined.

**YankeeStadium1923** · 07-02-2010, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by Robbyb26

Insult to injury

I don't have a problem with Cashman or Joba being on hand for the ceremony, however Lonn Trost and PigVomit(Randy Levine) should be escorted off site immediately!

**YankeeStadium1923** · 07-02-2010, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by YankeeStadium1923

I don't have a problem with Cashman or Joba being on hand for the ceremony, however Lonn Trost and PigVomit(Randy Levine) should be escorted off site immediately!

Randy Levine is the one responsible for the demolition of Yankee Stadium. It was a 10 year work in progress for Levine to get Steinbrenner a new Stadium. He was deputy Mayor under Rudy, worked on the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement that allowed deductions from luxury taxes with the building of new stadiums, and finally President of the New York Yankees.

So somebody please escort him off the premises

**Gary Dunaier** · 07-02-2010, 11:37 PM

"Excavation" by the left field bleachers area...

View from the 161st Street subway platform, looking towards home plate... I think the dirt in the foreground was taken from the bleachers area to make the "excavation..."

This photo was taken from the new Macombs Dam Park... the entrance to the Yankee Offices and the Press Gate were here...

Hallowed ground, now and forevermore...

One of my traditions, the view from as best as I could figure to being directly behind home plate... not sure if it's worth pursuing future shots from this angle, at least not on an "every time I go up there" basis (unless there are obvious changes), but in any case here's how it looked Thursday...

Wonder what these rolls are... do they have anything to do with Heritage Field?

This appears to be the area where they had the groundbreaking ceremonies a couple of days earlier... wonder if anyone got any photos of the event from either this vantage point or from the Macombs Dam Park...

More to come...

**Gary Dunaier** · 07-02-2010, 11:59 PM

Another look at the "excavation" where the bleachers were...

Yet another look, from a more straightaway angle...

The "footprint" of the original (1976) ticket booth area and escalator pod at Gate 6...

There's a small window in the blue construction fence where you can get a street-level view of the site...

Here's the view from that window...

The River Avenue Playground, across from Gate 6... the famous mural on the side of the bowling alley is in the background...

Speaking of the bowling alley, they're undergoing renovations themselves...

Here's a view from inside the skateboard park on the other side of 157th Street, diagonally across from Gate 6... River Avenue is to your left, 157th Street is straight ahead, and the mural on the bowling alley is in the distance...

Finally, a widescreen view of the classic South Bronx skyline that's formed the backdrop for so much baseball history throughout the years...

The rest of my photos from July 1 are here.

**Jays_Fan** · 07-03-2010, 12:09 AM

Those rolls look to be rolls of landscape fabric.

**Power Wally** · 07-04-2010, 08:05 AM

I'm thinking they may hold a contest to determine the name of the site. I'll go with "Bronx Bomber Ballfields" or "Murderers Row Meadows".

**locke40** · 07-04-2010, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Power Wally

I'm thinking they may hold a contest to determine the name of the site. I'll go with "Bronx Bomber Ballfields" or "Murderers Row Meadows".

That would actually be a pretty good idea. An online vote would be awesome. But I highly doubt they will do it.

**Cool Papa B.** · 07-06-2010, 01:09 PM

Really nice pictures Gary. Once again your pictures tell a story of what's going on. Thanks for sharing.

**florida_yankee_fan** · 07-09-2010, 08:02 PM

Link to article: http://highbridgenews.blogspot.com/2...into-park.html

**The Monument** · 07-10-2010, 06:25 AM

The article states that there will be an area where people can "discuss", presumably the demolition of the greatest sports venue ever built.

**drdg** · 07-12-2010, 06:18 PM

I posted this in the other thread (YS demolition)
I vote for or request that heritage field be rename
BOB SHEPPARD field
he was present HERE at this site (OYS/RYS) more than any
yankee player

**DN4L** · 07-12-2010, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by drdg

I posted this in the other thread (YS demolition)
I vote for or request that heritage field be rename
BOB SHEPPARD field
he was present HERE at this site (OYS/RYS) more than any
yankee player or otherwise

I think former clubhouse attendant Pete Sheehy had Bob Sheppard beat, in tenure...

**drdg** · 07-12-2010, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by DN4L

I think former clubhouse attendant Pete Sheehy had Bob Sheppard beat, in tenure...

you think
NO you are right
58 for sheehy who pass away in 1985
and about 51 for sheppard and gene monahan the trainer
but my vote is still for bob sheppard

**The Monument** · 07-12-2010, 08:27 PM

Sheppard and Sheehy, two gentlemen who would never write a book about what they heard and saw. Especially Sheehy! Can you imagine the stories? I remember Mantle saying once that Pete would tell him stories about Ruth and Gehrig. I'd love to hear those, but you have to respect those guys for not selling out. Good job DN4L and drdg, figuring out Sheehys tenure. Theres a photo of him in an early 70's yearbook, sitting with Babe and Lou in '27, and a modern day pic with Fritz Peterson and somebody else. I hope it's not Mike Kekich.

**Gary Dunaier** · 07-12-2010, 10:49 PM

**locke40** · 07-13-2010, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

Did we ever get a final answer on if Sheey's plaque was removed before they filled in the dugout? I remember seeing some photos of the plaque still hanging in the dugout even as the stadium began to fall around it. What a find that will be in 40 years if it remained!

**The Monument** · 07-13-2010, 07:06 AM

Sheehys plaque was removed. I have seen a photo of the dugout during demo, and the plaque was gone. Also, I don't think that the dugouts were filled in, but they were destroyed.