Key Takeaways
- The 150,000-square-foot facility at Brigadier Gen. Charles Young Playground will be among the largest athletic fields in New York City’s five boroughs
- More than $7 million came from the NY/NJ High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, with additional funding from MLB, MLBPA, and private donors
- Free youth programming will be offered through the city’s Saturday Night Lights initiative when the complex opens in spring 2026
- The project targets approximately 800 children through organized sports as part of a public safety strategy
- CC Sabathia’s PitCCh In Foundation contributed funding alongside city offices and league-backed youth development funds
via: New York Post
A Neglected Field Gets a Major Upgrade
New York City officials and former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia gathered Tuesday to unveil a $11 million renovation at Brigadier Gen. Charles Young Playground in Harlem. The project transforms what city officials described as a “dilapidated” field into a multi-purpose synthetic turf complex spanning 150,000 square feet.
The facility will feature improved drainage, new fencing, backstops, benches, dugouts, drinking fountains, and a cooling mist system. A Parks Department representative confirmed the previous natural turf field was heavily used and had persistent drainage problems.
The complex is expected to open in spring 2026.
How the Funding Came Together
The project drew from an unusual mix of public and private sources. More than $7 million came through the NY/NJ High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, a federal initiative. Additional public dollars flowed from the Manhattan Borough President’s Office and the New York City Council.
On the private side, Sabathia’s PitCCh In Foundation contributed alongside MLB, the MLBPA Youth Development Fund, and individual donors. The city has also committed $2.5 million for future upgrades to the field house bathrooms.
“Giving back has always been at the heart of everything I do,” Sabathia said in a statement. “This field represents opportunity, resilience, and community.”
Programming and Public Safety Goals
The complex will host free clinics through the city’s Saturday Night Lights program, which provides structured activities for young people outside of school hours. Mayor Eric Adams, who first announced the project at his State of the City address earlier this year, framed the investment as a public safety measure.
City officials estimate the facility will serve approximately 800 children through organized sports. The renovation builds on earlier upgrades completed in 2023, including new asphalt for the main basketball court and conversion of a basketball court into a soccer pitch.
Looking Ahead
The Harlem Field of Dreams adds to a growing list of public-private youth sports facility investments in major metros. For operators and funders watching this space, the project offers a replicable model: federal drug prevention dollars, league-backed youth funds, athlete foundations, and municipal commitments combining to address both infrastructure gaps and community programming needs.
photos: Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
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