News 12 gets exclusive tour into the many features of Mount Vernon’s new Memorial Field

The official ribbon-cutting is happening next week, but News 12 is getting a sneak peek into the many new features built into the new stadium. Tune in tonight to the News at 10 for a full tour.

Nadia Galindo

Sep 16, 2022, 4:43 PM

Updated 807 days ago

Share:

Mount Vernon is getting ready to reopen Memorial Field after being closed to the public since 2010.
The new Memorial Field will seat nearly 4,000 people and can accommodate several sports, including football, soccer, lacrosse and even field hockey.
MORE: 
LED lights, a field that can host regional football games and a brand new skate park are all included in the newly-renovated Memorial Field.
News 12 got an exclusive tour of the new facility ahead of the official ribbon cutting slated for next Wednesday.
The $33 million project has been headed by Westchester County after the city signed an intermunicipal agreement with County Executive George Latimer in 2018.
Despite some pandemic setbacks, the field has now been transformed from an eye sore with rubble and mud on East Sanford Boulevard to a stunning sports complex.
The turf field is of the same design standards as used in the NFL and is retrofitted to host various sports, including soccer, lacrosse and field hockey.
It also has an expanded track, thanks to feedback from the community during a county-led public hearing in 2019.
"In the prior Memorial Field, there were six lanes, so we listened to the community and it is now eight lanes," said Joan McDonald, Westchester County director of operations and one of Memorial Field's project managers.
Building out the track required some engineering maneuvering near the rock face on the far side of the field, she added.
The project also included adding features so Mount Vernon can host new track and field events, like the triple and long jump and the discus.
Westchester County Commissioner of Public Works and Transportation Hugh Greechan, who oversaw the project, said every detail was considered, from the two-sided LED sign to the stadium lighting.
"There is also LED lighting up above on the stadium so for the games, it’s all laser-directed, so there is no real light pollution from the stadium," Greechan said.
There is also a four-room press box with a spectacular view of the stadium.
"It's air-conditioned, it's heated, it’s a nice space to overview the game," Greechan said.
The stadium can seat 3,900 fans who also have access to plenty of bathrooms, which were designed with women in mind.
"There are twice as many women's rooms here at Memorial Field than men's room," said Greechan.
The stadium will be ready to open in time for the Mount Vernon Knights' first football home game in 15 years, slated for Saturday, Sept. 17.
Fans will see a new ticketing booth and a rock with an original plaque from the old Memorial Stadium at the plaza entrance.
There is also a new skate park, the first one in Mount Vernon, which was designed by skateboarders.
"They flew them in from California," said Greechan. "Every feature that they did, they would test out."
The sports complex will also include three tennis courts.
After 12 years of waiting, Mount Vernon residents now have a new community center to enjoy.
"It's a real jewel right here in the city of Mount Vernon," said McDonald.
A jewel ready to shine bright, for the people of Mount Vernon to embrace their community pride once again.