Brooklyn's Progress
January 2001

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, KeySpan Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert B. Catell, New York Mets Co-Owner and Brooklyn Baseball Company Chairman Fred Wilpon and Brooklyn Baseball Company Executive Vice President Jeffrey Wilpon announced that the New York Mets' 6,500-seat minor league ballpark, currently under construction at Steeplechase Park in Coney Island, will be officially named KeySpan Park. The new ballpark will be home to the New York Mets' minor league team, the Brooklyn Cyclones, which will play its home-opener against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on June 25, 2001.

"The new KeySpan Park will serve as a catalyst in the revitalization of Coney Island, much the way Disney's investment on 42nd Street helped turn Times Square around," said Mayor Giuliani. "When the Brooklyn Cyclones play at this new ballpark on June 25th, it will mark professional baseball's return to Brooklyn after an absence of more than 40 years. I'm already looking forward to throwing out the first pitch at the Cyclones' home-opener."

The Brooklyn Cyclones are scheduled to play 38 home games, and could play an additional six home games if they make the playoffs this year. In addition, the park can host up to 35 events per year, which may include other sporting, cultural, recreational, community, and civic events. Once the ballpark is completed, it is expected that an additional 240 full-and part-time jobs will result from the operation of the ballpark. The new ballpark is expected to generate more than $11.7 million in economic activity for New York City and is expected to generate $1.1 million in City revenues.

Located just a few blocks from the Stillwell Avenue subway station, KeySpan Park will play a pivotal role in the revitalization of the Coney Island amusement area. To date, approximately 500 construction jobs have been created, and it is expected that an additional 200 construction jobs will be created before construction of the ballpark and related site work is completed.

"KeySpan Park is being developed as a state-of-the-art ballpark for the 21st Century, and, when completed this summer, it will be a fitting venue in which to return professional baseball to Brooklyn,” said Jeffrey Wilpon. "As a boy from Borough Park, I'm delighted that Brooklyn no longer has to 'wait til next year' for its own professional baseball team, said Catell. “I'm especially proud that KeySpan Park will help to make these the 'good old days' for future generations of New Yorkers."

In addition to revitalization of Steeplechase Park, many improvements to the surrounding neighborhood are planned. The Giuliani Administration has appropriated $11 million for improvements to the area that will include new playgrounds, a lifeguard station, additional comfort stations, shade pavilions, information kiosks and sand volleyball courts. Three pedestrian corridors will be built to maintain public access to the waterfront. Portions of the world-famous Reigleman Boardwalk will be rebuilt, and the landmark Parachute Jump, Brooklyn's Eiffel Tower, will receive needed repairs. Recently, ground was broken for Mermaid Commons, a public/private initiative that will bring residential and commercial development to Mermaid Avenue. In addition, a Local Development Corporation will be created to support the area's development of amateur sports facilities.

"This is another step in the rehabilitation of this historic section of Brooklyn," said Deputy Mayor Harding. "In addition to this new ballpark, plans to expand the Aquarium and establish a Sports Museum will ensure Coney Island's position as the place to go for great family entertainment." "After more than four decades, professional baseball is coming back to Brooklyn,” said EDC President Carey. “The partnership between the Mets and the City, and now KeySpan, in this ballpark, will do much to foster the continued economic development of Coney Island and the surrounding areas."