Lowey Announces $1.5 Million FEMA Grant for New Rochelle

NEW YORK – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today announced that the City of New Rochelle has been awarded a grant of over $1.5 million to rebuild the Skidelsky Memorial Field, located in City Park, which sustained damages by the April Nor’easter storm.

“The April storm and flood resulted in severe damage to our community,” said Lowey. “I am pleased that the federal government has responded to this need in New Rochelle, and I will continue working to help New York recover and develop long-term strategies that will reduce risk in the future.”

During the storm event of April 14-18, 2007, the City of New Rochelle experienced severe rain and inland flooding. The Skidelsky Memorial Field was severely damaged by an inundation of 6-8 inches of water, bringing with it sediment, vegetative debris and construction material, all of which remained after the water drained. The federal funds will be used to replace the damaged synthetic playing surface.

The $1,568,442.75 in federal funds will be matched by $500,000 by the City of New Rochelle and State of New York.

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said that the federal funds will be well spent by the city.

“This critical assistance will help New Rochelle rebuild a field used by thousands of residents and will serve as a cornerstone for broader improvements at City Park, our most active athletic facility,” said Bramson. “We applaud FEMA for its response and Congresswoman Lowey for her invaluable advocacy in helping our community recover from the devastating floods of last April."