Photo by Denae Brewer/Horizon
MaCombs Dam park gets a much need renovation. The sidewalk and track will be repaved, new bleachers were added, the water fountain will be fixed and new lights will brighten the track at night.

Macombs Dam Park gets a face lift

By Denae Brewer
Editor in Chief

Situated in the shadows of Yankee Stadium, the towering trees that line the outside heightens it’s beauty, yet Macombs Dam Park is in dire need of a facelift.

Each day, joggers are greeted to a quarter mile track laced with cracks and divots while soccer players not only have to keep an eye on the ball, but also on pockets of mud holes created by recent rainfall.

“This place is a mess,” lamented Bill Jackson as he stretched for his morning jog. “There are holes in the track, the numbers are worn out and the grass is more brown then green.”

Sylvia Baez, who brought her son for soccer practice agrees. “It’s a shame this park has to look like this.” Pointing to a gaping hole in the inner portion of the track, she continued. “someone could easily brake their ankle if they are not paying attention.”

Fortunately, someone is paying attention.

Along with the Parks Capital Requirements Contract, the city council has allocated over $800,00 for the long awaited restoration of Macombs Dam Park.

$250,000 is earmarked for the renovation of the track area. This includes repaving and repainting of track lines.

A bulk of the money—approximately $500,000—will go towards reactivating the drinking fountain adjacent to the bleachers. “That’s a good idea. Ms. Baez said. “People get all hot and sweaty and there’s no place for them to cool off.”

Perhaps the most highly anticipated transformation of the park is the planned addition of lighting around the track field. “Safety is a major issue.” said a Parks and Recreation Department representative. Currently, the headlights of passing cars and the benefit of a full moon light the park at night. With this addition, the track could be used by runners at all time of the day.

“I don’t necessarily jog at night,” said track goer Ellen Heyward. “I like the option and I love the fact that there’s going to be lighting. It’s so dark around here that just walking by this place at night is scary. Lights will defiantly be an improvement.”