Bronx Community College and borough officials on Monday announced that the school’s Ohio Field will see major upgrades.
A total of $4 million in city and state capital funding will be used to “transform the entire baseball field, soccer field, and track,” according to a press release from the City University of New York school. The transformation of the school’s NCAA-sized outdoor athletic space will include a new outdoor control booth, an electronic digital scoreboard, an upgraded sound system and new LED field lights.
“With these upgrades, our stately athletic field will be a more attractive, modernized space that will positively impact the College’s athletic program for decades into the future,” interim president Milton Santiago said. “We are confident this exciting project will help maximize our students’ experience — for not just student athletes, but for all students; assist w/BCC recruitment and retention, and also be good for the entire Bronx community.”
The track and field had been the main outdoor athletic facility for New York University until the private university, facing bankruptcy at the time, left its University Heights campus in 1973 and Bronx Community College moved into the 55-acre property. Now, the field is used by BCC’s baseball and soccer teams. Members of the surrounding community are able to show ID and come in to use the track before the sun sets. When people aren’t using the field, birds often visit and, quite literally, leave their marks.
Construction on the renovations is projected to begin in 2027 and be completed in 12 months.
“This $4 million capital investment in Bronx Community College not only enhances our sports facilities but also includes critical infrastructure upgrades,” Bronx borough president Vanessa Gibson said in the release. “These improvements will elevate the experience for our student-athletes and community members who will utilize this new and improved field and underscore the importance of investing in our higher ed institutions.
BCC spokesperson Richard Ginsberg told THE CITY in a written statement that there is also a separate capital project that “includes a new track with a new underground drainage system along with a new grass soccer and baseball field, new baseball fenced backstop and new fan bleacher area.”
BCC student athletes had lobbied for upgrades earlier this year, with soccer player Abdul Mohammed saying in a video:
“This important project will have a positive impact on our athletics department for decades to come and serve as an asset to the entire Bronx community. My fellow student athletes and I are very excited for this project, which we believe will be transformative for BCC.”
In a statement sent by Ginsberg, Athletic Director Dionne Dodson beamed about the coming field improvements and new lights that are coming, saying that “We are limited with the start time for practices and contests because we don’t have lights” And “have experienced sink holes which caused us to change our practice and game schedule.”
Of the $4 million, approximately $1 million is coming from the City Council capital funding via the Bronx Council delegation while Sanchez is putting forth $500,000 from her own capital budget. The borough president contributed another $500,000, and the state is putting in capital funding to match that money from local officials, Ginsberg told THE CITY.
“Bronx students deserve exceptional outdoor recreation facilities to complement their academic studies and enable them to reach their full potential,” said Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, whose district includes BCC. “Today’s announcement means that BCC student athletes and our community will enjoy a world-class athletic facility they can truly take pride in!”
THE CITY partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
