- Long before Phil Rizzuto took his place in the Hall of Fame, heplayed ball for Richmond Hill High School. Now, residents of the Queens
neighborhood want to name the local public ballfields after him.
State Assemblyman Rory Lancman joined community leaders Monday to
announce their campaign to honor the Yankees shortstop, who died in
August at the age of 89.
The proposal is also meant to address the concerns of some community
members who are eager to get rid of the park's current name, Smokey
Oval, which they find offensive, Lancman said.
The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation says on its
Web site that the name refers to a time when the Long Island Rail Road
tracks nearby littered the park with soot and ash from railway smoke.
But Lancman says some members of the Sikh community are concerned
people will associate the name with smoking, a practice they reject.
The Parks Department said in a statement that the agency had not yet
received a formal proposal, but "would welcome the opportunity to
review'' the matter. The parkland contains ballfields, swings and
basketball and handball courts.
Rizzuto was the New York Yankees shortstop during the team's dynasty
years of the 1940s and 1950s; he later became a beloved broadcaster for
four decades.
Technorati Tags: TONYLIMO, YANKEES, NYC, RIZZUTO
Powered by ScribeFire.
No comments:
Post a Comment