Dust Bowl begone!
Brooklynites have until August 1 to dream up a new moniker for the spiffy new ball fields at Leif Ericson Park that, for years, were known as the “Dust Bowl” — thanks to the fact that the barren field was without grass.
City Councilman Vincent Gentile (D—Bay Ridge) launched the contest to rename the park after he helped cut the ribbon on the new $2.8 million synthetic turf which covered the dirt field at 66th Street, between Seventh and Eighth avenues.
“It can’t very well be called the Dust Bowl anymore,” he said.
The field of submissions will be mowed down to three, and area residents will be able to vote for their favorite name online until Labor Day, with the Parks Department making the final decision, said Gentile.
“It’ll be interesting to see what people come up with, and whether they want to name it after a person, a thought, or a theme particular to the park,” he said.
Some people might still harbor fondness for the old handle, said agency spokesman Phil Abramson, recalling that when the contest was announced, some diehards shouted, “Keep it the Dust Bowl!”
“I don’t think we’ll do that,” Abramson said.
Submit name ideas on line at www.vincentgentile.blogspot.com, or contact Gentile’s district office at (718) 748-5200.
