The 135,000 square-foot Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex can host a range of competitions from local Staten Island school races, to elite level meets, to large regional events. The 200 meter Mondo track has eight lanes, six of which can be hydraulically banked up to a 4.5 foot incline for elite competition. Additional field space is designated for two long jump pits, one pole vault, a high jump, and two weight throwing areas. The complex can seat 2,500 spectators and has commanding views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and even the Freedom Tower in lower Manhattan.
The $112 million facility was funded through Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC initiative along with additional funding provided by the Borough President’s Office and the City Council. The building was designed by Sage and Coombe Architects and construction was managed by DDC. In keeping with the City’s sustainability goals, the City is seeking a LEED Silver rating for the building and has incorporated features to conserve energy and water into the design. Sustainable features for the building include geothermal heating and cooling, displacement ventilation, harvesting of storm water to recharge surrounding wetlands, a “cool” roof and recycled materials. In addition, the building will take advantage of the cool ocean breezes to provide natural ventilation for the majority of the year. Natural daylight harvested through skylights, windows, light shelves and clerestories will either eliminate or supplement the necessity for artificial lighting much of the time. The adjacent sand dunes, wetlands, grasslands and shrub forest comprising much of Ocean Breeze Park have been preserved.
This facility also now serves as NYC Parks’ 36th Recreation Center. Annual membership for adults ages 25 – 61 is $100; for Seniors and Young Adults ages 18 – 24 the annual membership fee is just $25; and access is FREE for all youth under the age of 18. The complex has already begun hosting free programming for youth and members and organized its own youth track team known as the Ocean Breeze Wave Runners.
For more information on scheduling track meets at the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex and events email oceanbreeze@parks.nyc.gov. For information about NYC Parks’ Recreation Center membership visit our website or call (718) 351-7923.
The facility is also the new home to an inspirational art installation, Skycycle, by artist Paul Villinski. The piece depicts three flying bicycle sculptures which are now suspended in a climbing attitude with wings slightly banked to communicate a feeling of ascending in the stairwell. The piece is part of NYC’s Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art program.
Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex is located on a 10-acre parcel of the 110-acre Ocean Breeze Park. It includes part of a 26-acre parcel of state parkland that was transferred to the city in December 2009 to be part of Ocean Breeze Park. Former New York State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash worked with the city to move this project forward.
The master plan for Ocean Breeze Park was a winner of the 2010 New York American Society of Landscape Architects awards and the Track & Field Complex was also a winner of the 2010 annual award for Excellence in Public Design, awarded by the New York City Public Design Commission.
