White Plains, NY — Westchester County is ready to take over the renovation of Memorial Field. The Board of Legislators on Monday unanimously approved changes to an agreement between the county and the City of Mount Vernon to complete the project.

Under the revised agreement, the county will assume responsibility for final design and construction of the renovation, which has languished for a decade.  

Legislator Lyndon Williams (D - Mount Vernon) said, "For the first time in a 10 years, Mount Vernon residents can realistically look forward to a day when Memorial Field will be restored. I'm happy that County Executive George Latimer agreed with my request earlier this year for the County to take over the project. Memorial Field should be a jewel for the City of Mount Vernon. It should never have been allowed to fall into such disrepair, especially since an agreement to fix things has been in place for years. I'm excited now, with the county in charge, that things will begin moving forward."

In 2009, the county approved $9.7 million in spending to build a new grandstand, fields and a track at the park, which has been used over the years not only by Mount Vernon but the whole Westchester community. The county advanced $3.4 million of that money to the project.  The initial agreement with Mount Vernon required the city to contribute $3 million to the project, and gave the city responsibility for managing construction.

Although plans were completed and ground was broken in 2011, a series of events -- including changes to the plan made by the city without county approval -- brought the project to a halt.

The amended agreement approved Monday caps the county's funding for the project at the initially appropriated $9.7 million.  An additional $5 million state grant, secured by Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, will be managed by the county.  

The new terms also require Mount Vernon to submit to an audit to determine how the city has spent the county money it was previously given.

For text of the agreement and legislative history, visit: https://bit.ly/2AC8Nk9