MAYOR RICHARD THOMAS SIGNS MEMORIAL FIELD AGREEMENT
City, County Agree to Competitive 8-Lane Track, Field, and a Commitment to Returning the Park to the People
(October 2, 2018) — Today, October 2, 2018, Mayor Richard Thomas announced the signing of an amended agreement between Westchester County and the City of Mount Vernon for the restoration of Memorial Field. This amendment reiterates the City and County’s commitment to a competitive 8-lane track, a field, and replacement of the decayed grandstands. It amends the previous agreement, signed in December of 2008, between the City and the County.
The amendment, necessitated by previous administration’s failure to fix the Field, was negotiated over the past few months. Under the new amendment, the City is still obligated to clean-up the contaminated debris in the Field, that was illegally dumped in November of 2015. This obligation is mandated by the Department of Environmental Conservation and required the city to dig several tests pits at the tennis courts and surrounding debris fields.
Mayor Richard Thomas said, “With the execution of this agreement, the people of Mount Vernon will get their Field back. They can be secure in the fact that the City Council, Westchester County, and the Mayor’s Office are on the same page. I am confident that this agreement protects the city and its taxpayers. It solidifies our position that Mount Vernon residents deserve an 8-lane track, a field to host competitive events, and a dynamic resource for residents and visitors to enjoy for years to come. I appreciate County Executive George Latimer and his team’s willingness to collaborate with the city.”
This morning, on WVOX with Bob Marrone, County Executive George Latimer said, “I have one goal, to make sure the Field gets fixed…… It’s all in keeping with everything we tried to do…… Go in very pragmatically, try and solve problems, try and work with everybody.”
City Council President Lisa Copeland said, “The City Council believes the people of Mount Vernon deserve a restored and revitalized Field. We are pleased with the amended agreement and we look forward to a new Field.”
