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Candidates differ on Van Cortlandt Park stadium’s fate; both call for community input
Summary
At the debate, Dinowitz said experts should guide Van Cortlandt Park’s stadium decision and warned replacement could cost a few hundred million dollars, while Evers emphasized youth sports access and community‑led planning after Parks Department said the stadium is not repairable.
Van Cortlandt Park’s deteriorated stadium — closed since 2021 after flooding — drew extended attention in the BronxNet debate.
Moderator Gary noted a Parks Department study that said the 87‑year‑old stadium had deteriorated and reported the agency’s recommendation that the structure not be repaired. Dinowitz said he respects expert guidance and wants more information before endorsing a course of action. “We have to rely on what the experts are saying,” he said, adding that replacing the facility “could cost a couple of $100,000,000” and that securing city funding would be difficult given longstanding shortfalls in parks funding.
Evers said families deserve functioning youth-sports facilities and urged a community‑driven approach. “We need to be bold and be proactive with these structures and not ignore problems that are right in our face,” she said, and said she would support the community and community board’s decision about repair versus replacement. When told the Parks Department deemed the stadium “not repairable,” Evers said she would listen to neighborhood voices and the city.
The candidates agreed on the need to preserve park amenities for youth and community events, but differed on emphasis: Dinowitz stressed fiscal realism and following expert evaluations; Evers emphasized community engagement and ensuring the needs of families and youth sports programs are prioritized when the city and community boards decide the next steps.
The debate did not produce a policy decision. Candidates said future work should involve Parks Department analysis, community-board input and identification of funding sources.
