On November 19, the Parks Department held a formal grand opening for the long-anticipated Ocean Breeze Track and Field Athletic Complex on Father Capodanno Blvd. The event felt like Christmas morning for runners, Borough President James Oddo said.
The two-story facility cost $93 million to complete and already has 70 meets booked on the calendar.
With 700 Staten Islanders already signed up for the reasonably priced membership to the facility, it’s off and – literally - running.
“If you’re involved in track now, this center will make you want to be,” noted Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver who emceed the opening festivities from the center of the hydraulic track.
"Wow… This is truly an exciting day Staten Island. Not only will this facility put Staten Island on the map within the track and field community by allowing us to play host to important sporting events, but it will it will also fill a real year-round need for Staten Islanders who are interested in improving their health and wellness at an affordable price in a convenient location," said Borough President Oddo.
The athletic complex is 135,000 square feet and has seating for 2,500, important during track and field events.
Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora spoke to the facility’s storm resiliency, a piece of the project that was looked at again post-Sandy.
In addition, the Indoor Athletics Facility has certified the complex, making it the only world-class facility on the East Coast.
The 200 meter Mondo track has eight lanes, has a sensored heating and cooling system, an anti-glare system and an Olympic-style lifting platform.
After the program, Commissioners Silver and Pena-Mora led a group of adults and children alike (including Assemblyman Michael Cusick) for the very first lap around the new track.
The two-story facility cost $93 million to complete and already has 70 meets booked on the calendar.
With 700 Staten Islanders already signed up for the reasonably priced membership to the facility, it’s off and – literally - running.
“If you’re involved in track now, this center will make you want to be,” noted Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver who emceed the opening festivities from the center of the hydraulic track.
"Wow… This is truly an exciting day Staten Island. Not only will this facility put Staten Island on the map within the track and field community by allowing us to play host to important sporting events, but it will it will also fill a real year-round need for Staten Islanders who are interested in improving their health and wellness at an affordable price in a convenient location," said Borough President Oddo.
The athletic complex is 135,000 square feet and has seating for 2,500, important during track and field events.
Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora spoke to the facility’s storm resiliency, a piece of the project that was looked at again post-Sandy.
In addition, the Indoor Athletics Facility has certified the complex, making it the only world-class facility on the East Coast.
The 200 meter Mondo track has eight lanes, has a sensored heating and cooling system, an anti-glare system and an Olympic-style lifting platform.
After the program, Commissioners Silver and Pena-Mora led a group of adults and children alike (including Assemblyman Michael Cusick) for the very first lap around the new track.
