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| Google satellite image;
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Allerton Ballfields in Bronx Park along Webster Avenue and the Metro
North train tracks between Kazimiroff Boulevard and East 204th Street,
adjacent to
French Charley's Playground. The
Allerton Ballfields are not mentioned by name in the NYC Parks Department
Press releases because they were part of the same project: the construction
of a large playground alongside four ball fields. Today they have separate
labels: French Charley's Playground and Allerton Ballfields. The
Department of Parks Press Release, July 29,
1940, says "[the area] will be developed with two children's
playgrounds, one on the westerly side near 204 Street, and the other on
Bronx Boulevard opposite Rosewood Street [
Rosewood
Playground]. Two softball diamonds and also a regulation baseball
diamond will be provided." These are the diamonds adjacent to French
Charley's Playground, now called Alleteron Ballfields because Kazimiroff
Boulevard is Allerton Avenue west of Bronx Park East. The New Deal
connection is confirmed in the
Parks
Department page for French Charley's Playground, which says:
In June of 1941, Parks developed this playground and the fields, and the WPA
(Works Progress Administration) provided the labor force for the new
construction.
It would appear a fourth ball field was added at a later time.
