Spiegel
has consistently supported cricket
Borough
Commissioner Julius Spiegel was described as the greatest
commissioner in Brooklyn by Roy Sweeney, president of the
United Cricket Promoters Association, while introducing
him for induction into the Cricket Hall of Fame, at ceremonies
held at the Hartford/Marriott Hotel, Windsor, Connecticut,
Saturday, October 2. “We must give good credit to
those who help to keep the game alive,” he said.
One
of the original and longest serving borough commissioners,
Spiegel has consistently supported the sport of cricket.
It was at his direction that the City of New York constructed
the first field designed exclusively for cricket at the
Gateway Estates.
In
his reply, following his induction into the Hall of Fame,
Spiegel said that it was not an easy task to get the field
built, revealing at the same time that another field is
on the drawing boards. He said that building of the field
was the highlight of his career and advised the people who
participate in the sport to stay focused and to get young
people involved so that they can learn about their heritage
and keep it up. “Don’t let petty jealousies
and rivalries kill your sport,” he advised
Through
his supervision every effort was made to ensure that cricket
players had access to fields at Marine Park, Canarsie Park
and Monroe Cohen Park in Brooklyn.
A
tireless advocate for all of Brooklyn green spaces, Commissioner
Spiegel has worked with elected officials to successfully
obtain over $500 million in capital funds. Under his leadership,
Parks and Recreation renovated and restored Ocean Parkway
and Eastern Parkway, primed every street tree in the borough,
created Brooklyn’s first skate park at Owl’s
Head Park, created the Salt Field, Rod Hook field and Dyker
Park, and renovated the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Metropolitan
Pool, and the Fort Hamilton Senior Center. Spiegel has also
worked on the revitalization of the famous Coney Island,
securing $25 million in capital funding, organizing new
programming and procuring new amenities for the Coney Island
Beach and Boardwalk.
