Residents in Mount Vernon celebrated the opening of the Memorial Field track on Saturday.  

Memorial Field had been closed to the public for 12 years due to disrepair until Westchester County took on a $33 million project to renovate the site. 

Many locals braved cold temperatures to attend the celebration, welcoming the long awaited track and skate park. Resident Horace Francis was the first person to get on the track.   

"I got here early. I was excited. This is important. We needed this,” he said.   

Mount Vernon resident Alfonso Grimes has looked forward to this day for 12 years. After a long career as an educator, he enjoys running and believes the track will be a positive force in the community. 

"I’ve run the track for years. Every morning, that’s how I would start my day," he said. "You're constantly seeing your neighbors; you get a chance to talk and find out about the families.” 

Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard says the track is a much-needed resource that provides safety and community representation.  

"In a community largely of color where we have lots of health disparities, this field walking, running, skating, jogging, football, soccer, rugby, track will add to the physical mental, and emotional wellness of this community,” said she said.  

The final piece of the field, the tennis courts, are also set to open sometime in April.   

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