Aviator Sports Complex Is Brooklyn's Field Of Dreams
By Neil S. Friedman

Congressman Anthony Weiner was one of many speakers at official opening of sports complex.

After decades, four desolate airplane hangars at Floyd Bennett Field, which were virtually neglected and left to decay, have been restored and transformed into a huge, modern year-round sports and recreation facility that offers Brooklynites, as well as residents from all over the metropolitan area, an opportunity to enjoy a variety of programs and indoor activities in their own backyard.

Aviator Sports and Recreation offi-cially opened the 25-acre, 170,000 square-foot complex with a gala ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by several members of the National Park Service workforce, local dignitaries or their representatives and scores of guests.

The $38 million mega-sports center is comprised of an 18,000-square foot field house with two hardwood courts for basketball and volleyball, two regulation-size NHL ice rinks with seating for 2,300 spectators, a 16,000-square foot gymnastics and dancing center, a large fitness center and a 35-foot rock climbing wall. The facility also houses an 8,000-square foot food court and a child care center, in addition to two adjoining outdoor turf fields, which may be used for football, soccer or cricket and are equipped for lighting for night games, that debuted last summer.

Taking part in ribbon cutting are:(from left)CB18 District Manager Dorothy Turano, State Senator Carl Kruger, Aviator Sports General Manager Tom Wells, Commissioner of National Parks, N.Y. Harbor Maria Burks, Gateway General Superintendent Barry Sullican and Aviator Sports &Recreation executives Kevin McCabe and Steven Gluckstern.

Construction on the facility, which has 20-year concessions contract with the National Park Service, began last April and actually opened to the public in September. Aviator Sports, a New York City-based concessionaire, expects the complex to draw over one million amateur athletes, spectators and visitors a year.

State Senator Carl Kruger, who op-posed the sports facility when it was announced last spring, said "the idea should be scrapped," but supported a proposal to bring Grand Prix-style racing to Floyd Bennett that was ultimately rejected last summer. However, on Tuesday, Kruger lauded the sports facility and took an active part in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Rock climbing is one of many activities at the massive Floyd Bennett Field sports complex. Photos by Neil S. Friedman

Congressman Anthony Weiner, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Queens and whose district encompasses the site, a representative for Borough President Marty Markowitz and Community Board 18 District Manager Dorothy Turano also took part in the grand opening.

Floyd Bennett Field, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last May, is a historic airfield that is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area - the nation's largest urban park that opened in 1972. It is named for the man who piloted the aircraft that flew Admiral Byrd on his first polar expedition to the Arctic in 1926. The airfield, located south of the Belt Parkway on Flatbush Avenue, was New York's first municipal airport. The field predated Kennedy Airport by more than 25 years.

During World War II the field was used as a training facility for future pilots.

It has also served as a New York City Police Department helicopter station, a Sanitation Department training center and a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Center.

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