Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, along with the Bronx delegation of the New York City Council and State of New York, has awarded $4 million in capital funding to upgrade Ohio Track & Field, the College’s primary athletic field.  An event was held on the field on Tuesday, October 22, to celebrate the work of student athletes who joined together last spring to advocate for the funding and the impact this project is expected to have on students and the community in the decades to come. 

“With these upgrades, our stately athletic field will be a more attractive, modernized space that will positively impact the College’s athletic program for decades into the future. Our athletic field also is used by the community, so we are excited to provide our neighbors and community partners with this upgraded facility,” Interim BCC President Milton Santiago said. “We are confident this exciting project will help maximize our students’ experience – for not just student athletes, but for all students; assist w/BCC recruitment and retention, and also be good for the entire Bronx community.” 

The capital funding will be used to transform the entire baseball field, soccer field, and track, with infrastructure upgrades including a new outdoor control booth and audio-visual components such as a new electronic digital scoreboard and LED field lights. The upgraded sound system also will be used for graduation, which takes place each May on Ohio Field. 

Event attendees are expected to include: Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson; NYC Council Member Eric Dinowitz – District 11; NYC Council Member Oswald Feliz – District 15, and NYC Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez -District 14. 

“This $4 million capital investment in Bronx Community College not only enhances our sports facilities but also includes critical infrastructure upgrades,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “These improvements will elevate the experience for our student-athletes and community members who will utilize this new and improved field and underscore the importance of investing in our higher ed institutions.” 

“Bronx students deserve exceptional outdoor recreation facilities to complement their academic studies and enable them to reach their full potential. Thanks to the $1.5M in capital funding I proudly helped secure, we will enhance the baseball field, soccer field, and track at Bronx Community College,” Council Member Pierina Sanchez said. “I am grateful to Speaker Adrienne Adams, Majority Leader Farias, and the Bronx delegation for their invaluable partnership. Today’s announcement means that BCC student athletes and our community will enjoy a world-class athletic facility they can truly take pride in!”

NYC Council Member Feliz added, “This is not only a win for BCC students, but also for the members of the Bronx community who get to enjoy the facilities through programming being offered. Bronx residents deserve to thrive and enjoy the new state of the art facilities that are being built at BCC.” 

“I am proud to join Bronx Community College today to announce this historic $4 million investment in our Bronx community,” said Council Member Eric Dinowitz. “As Co-Chair of the Bronx Delegation and Chair of the Committee on Higher Education, I have made it my priority to tirelessly advocate for educational facility investments in the Bronx. This investment represents an opportunity for BCC and CUNY to open itself up to community partnerships throughout our city, highlighting the values that CUNY holds. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in the Bronx Delegation to secure funding from the City Council. I also wish to thank Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Speaker Adrienne Adams, and our colleagues in the State Legislature for making this a priority.”