Linnaeus Park in Bayside NY, the next Field of Dreams?

I have lived in Queens for the last 18 years and I just found a park that I never knew existed. 

This afternoon my youngest son played baseball at a little field called Linnaeus Park, it is located at 230th Street and 57th Road. 

I have been in this area a ton of times, I have sold a few houses and rented a couple apartments, how did I ever miss this park? 

Its a well kept secret. 

So kept, that the park is in desperate need of fixing up.  This park was "a bedraggled lot, choked with weeds and crabgrass that only rarely encountered a lawn mower. No one around it even knew it had a name".  Then one day in 1992 a construction crew came to do an extreme makeover and the residents were not happy.    Odd, but true.   They felt that this new beautiful park would harbor late night parties, out of control kids and an attraction for outsiders. 

That was then, but this is now. 

Now that is field has been in active use for sometime now, wouldn't it be nice to make this the Queens Field of Dreams?  It really could be beautiful. 

I love Queens, I love Bayside and Whitestone.  I have traveled to many ball fields since my oldest started playing ball 8 years ago and one thing that Queens NY lacks is nice ball field.  The means are there, we already have the outlets, why can't Queens have the nice manicured fields that Long Island has? 

You can see the condition of the field in this photo, yes.. that is my little pudge catching - ok, check out his stance - he looks good doesn't he?  Anyhow - notice that there is no batters box?  A ton of crab grass?  See that there is no drawn base lines?  Yep, this is Queens Ball Fields and they are all like this.  How sad! 

So Mr. Avella and Mr. Padavan and Mrs. Carrozza - What can we do about these sad looking fields?

Comments

[Derek Burress]

He's going to break his arm if he doesn't learn to catch the ball closer to his body. Tell him to let the ball come to him.

Good secondary stance (the one you use with runners on base) but if he's in a secondary stance, he should position his throwing arm behind the mitt rather than the back. Forget putting the hand behind the back. Have him to place it behind his right shin guard instead when there are no runners on base or less than two strikes.

Only other problem I see is the chest protector is a bit loose.

As for the field, there is a program the major leagues have put together to help promote the game. They often rebuild fields and provide equipment. You should check the MLB.com site or email the Yankees and Met's Public Relations office and have them to direct you to the right place and see if there is someone there who may help get a grant or something for the kids to fix up the fields, etc.