Rewritten version
CC Sabathia’s impact was felt even in his post‑career days.
The former Yankees ace joined Mayor Eric Adams and local officials on Tuesday to launch an $11 million, 150,000‑square‑foot multi‑sport complex on the site that once held a neglected Harlem park.
The old playground at Brigadier Gen. Charles Young had long been in disrepair, but the new “Field of Dreams”‑style facility will serve as a hub for free youth programming and community recreation.
Speaking at the unveiling, Sabathia emphasized that “giving back has always been at the heart of everything I do.” He explained how the field will symbolize opportunity, resilience, and community – values that shaped his own upbringing and continue to inspire him.
Mayor Adams said the complex will be a game‑changer, keeping neighborhood kids off the streets and providing them with the chance to earn scholarships, learn discipline, and pursue professional sports dreams.
Funding for the project came from a mix of sources: the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, the Manhattan Borough President’s Office, the New York City Council, as well as the PitCCh In Foundation, Major League Baseball, the MLB Players’ Association Youth Development Fund, and numerous private donors.
In addition to the synthetic turf, the site will feature enhanced drainage, drinking fountains, fencing, backstops, benches, dugouts, and a cooling mist system.
City officials highlighted that the renovated field will rank among the largest athletic venues in the boroughs, with the goal of keeping around 800 children engaged in organized sports and away from trouble.
Earlier work had already upgraded the basketball court and turned it into a soccer pitch in 2023; forthcoming plans include upgrading the field‑house bathrooms with $2.5 million in additional funding.
Mayor Adams finished by stressing that sport and recreation bring people together, can change lives, and help build stronger communities—making the new recreational spaces a promising investment in the future of local kids.
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