Donor's $40M Gift Will Bring Velodrome To Brooklyn Waterfront
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A Manhattan man this week announced he is pledging to give $40 million to build a massive field house in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
It's the largest single gift in the history of the city's parks system.
Parks officials say Joshua Rechnitz pledged the money to go toward plans that include a velodrome with an indoor cycling track and stadium seating for almost 2,500.
"I think there's a lot of great stuff going on in the park as it is and I like that it's kind of staying the way it's been historically and not being developed so it's not something I'd be particularly in favor of," said one park visitor.
"I say go for it if he wants to donate it, why not? Bring business to the area," said another park visitor.
"I think anything that brings people down here is probably a good idea. You know, this is an up-and-coming area and they're doing all this work here. So yeah I think it'd probably be a good thing," noted a third.
Brooklyn Bridge Park President Regina Myer says the gift will help "invigorate the park in the winter months and provide much needed active recreation space for youth all over the borough on a year round basis".