MAYOR GIULIANI AND PARKS COMMISSIONER STERN BREAK GROUND ON $4.6 MILLION RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTH MEADOW IN CENTRAL PARK
--Project Will Restore The Entire 18-acre Landscape--
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Parks Commissioner Henry Stern and Central Park Conservancy Chairman Ira M. Millstein today broke ground on a two-year, $4.6 million reconstruction project to restore the popular North Meadow in Central Park. Funded entirely by the City, this project which will modernize 17 existing athletic fields and build one new soccer field, is the first significant infrastructure improvement to the 18-acre North Meadow in over 40 years.
Bounded by the East and West Park Drives between the 97th Street Transverse Road and the 102nd Street Cross Drive, the North Meadow will feature an enhanced recreational landscape including: 12 reconstructed ballfields and five soccer fields, the construction of a modern and new soccer field, the installation of a state-of-the-art irrigation and drainage system, and the planting of 362,500 square feet of new grass.
"Central Park is one of the jewels in our City's great park system and I am happy to be here today to break ground for a very exciting project -- the restoration of the North Meadow of Central Park," the Mayor said. "And the North Meadow represents so much of what makes this park great. In the original design, it was the largest of Central Park's three pastoral landscapes and today is one of the most heavily trafficked spaces used for softball, baseball, football, soccer, picnicking, sunbathing and large concerts like the Garth Brooks concert last August.
"The City is proud to be funding this two-year, $4.6 million reconstruction project -- a public-private partnership with the Central Park Conservancy that will make a big difference in the lives of thousands of New Yorkers," the Mayor continued. "The result will be a space that better meets the recreational needs of New Yorkers for years to come. I would like to thank the Parks Department and the Central Park Conservancy for their help in reaching this goal."
Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern said, "With almost $5 million from the Mayor's Capital Budget, we will be able to restore the North Meadow just as we did Central Park's other major landscapes -- the Sheep Meadow in 1981 and the Great Lawn in 1997."
Central Park Conservancy Chairman Ira M. Millstein said, "The Conservancy is committed to returning to New Yorkers a green and healthy North Meadow. We have worked closely with the community on the restoration plans, and count on residents' continuing support to help preserve an invaluable urban resource. We are proud to be the City's partner in preserving Central Park." The North Meadow restoration is the last major project of the Wonder of the World campaign, the $71.5 million fundraising effort between the City and the Conservancy that also funded the restoration of the Great Lawn. Similar to the Great Lawn prior to its restoration, the North Meadow had deteriorated due to intense use and poor drainage. Through this project, the City and the Conservancy strive to create landscapes that better accommodate recreational use while recapturing the Park's pastoral character.
In addition, the project adds one new soccer field and eliminates the overlap of the outfields on two ballfields. The 12 existing ballfields will be resurfaced with up-to-date infields, new backstops, and modern players' benches and dugout fencing. All paved pathways around the fields will be reconstructed and new drinking fountains and additional trees will be placed throughout the area. Although the ballfields will be closed during reconstruction, the Great Lawn's eight ballfields, among other area ballfields, will be available for play.
The Reconstruction will be done in phases:
- The first phase of reconstruction is the excavation of existing field surfaces. The sites will then be regraded and a state-of-the-art underground drainage and irrigation system will be installed.
- The second phase is pavement and landscaping improvements including new laying new soil on the fields.
- The third phase, complete by next Spring, is reseeding the fields with new grass.
- The North Meadow is expected to reopen Spring 2000.
The Central Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1980 that works with the City to ensure that Central Park remains a beautiful place for leisure, recreation, and the appreciation of nature.
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