Whitey Ford Field March Cleanup Recap

March 14, 2024

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The Old Astoria Neighborhood Association organized with Friends of Whitey Ford Field their first Spring event of the year at Whitey Ford Field on 26^th Avenue and 2^nd Street.

Fifteen volunteers showed up on a cold and overcast day to perform a little cleanup at the field. Volunteers from Astoria Sports and Frank Sinatra School of the Arts were joined by auxiliaries and community officers from the NYPD 114th Pct.

At the request of the NYC Department of Parks, with the support of Partnership for Parks, soil that accumulated over the winter, especially around the dugout, was removed. Baseball and softball seasons start at the beginning of April, and the Parks Department is heavily involved in preparing all the fields in Queens.

We want to thank the staff at Brooklyn Harvest Market for preparing a nice spread of fruits, muffins, doughnuts, and coffee. OANA member and volunteer Phyllis Sharp brought us doughnuts from Dough Astoria. We thank her for her generosity.

Whitey Ford Field is the oldest sports field in Astoria and was built between 1905 and 1906. It’s the birthplace of Astoria and was named after the legendary Yankee pitcher Charles Edward Ford in August 2000. Frank Sinatra High School, Queens Lighted Softball Association, and Astoria Sports use the field from April through November. The Old Astoria Neighborhood advocates for two dog runs to help keep dog owners off the field. Friends of Whitey Ford Field is advocating for more leagues to play at the ballpark, as well as cultural events, such as movie nights and poetry recitals, weekly open street community gatherings, and a farmer’s market on the grounds adjacent to the ballpark.