[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 172 (Wednesday, December 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TAKE THE FIELD REBUILDS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC FIELDS IN NYC

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2001

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on November 8 the House adopted the VA, HUD 
and Independent Agencies Appropriation Conference Report. This bill 
included an allocation of $500,000 for Take the Field, a tremendously 
worthwhile and effective program aimed at rebuilding the outdoor 
athletic fields of all New York City's public high schools.
  I would like to thank the distinguished Chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee, Mr. Young, my distinguished colleague from 
Wisconsin, Mr. Obey, my distinguished colleague from New York, Mr. 
Walsh, the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs, HUD and Independent 
Agencies Subcommittee, and also the Ranking Minority Member, from West 
Virginia, Mr. Mollohan, for their efforts in making this allocation 
possible.
  I would also like to commend three extraordinary business and 
community leaders, Preston Robert Tisch, Richard Kahan and Tony Kiser, 
who founded this public/private partnership and have worked selflessly 
and relentlessly to promote its success. Thanks to their efforts, Take 
the Field is already off to a promising start. Seven outdoor athletic 
facilities--at least one in each borough--have already been rebuilt.
  Take the Field is committed to rebuilding 52 of 60 outdoor facilities 
over a four-year period. The average cost of each field reconstruction 
project is $2 million, bringing the total cost just over $100 million. 
The $500,000 allocation that this bill provides will actually provide 
$2 million for Take the Field, thanks to the City of New York, which 
has provided this tremendous undertaking with a three to one challenge 
grant.
  In the next few years, Take the Field can reverse more than a quarter 
of a century of neglect and deterioration of our public school athletic 
fields and provide students with access to a broad range of athletic 
activities that can improve their health, motivate their desire for 
academic excellence and keep them away from drugs and violence. The 
allocation contained in this bill will help accomplish this.

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