Last pitch to save Gate 2: Yankees fans battle to preserve famed portal to old stadium

Last pitch to save Gate 2: Yankees fans battle to preserve famed portal to old stadium

BY Benjamin Peim SPECIAL TO THE NEWS

Monday, September 28th 2009, 4:00 AM

It's the bottom of the ninth and Yankees fans fighting to save Gate 2 of the old stadium are swinging for the fences.
The city Parks Department plans to seek preliminary approval next week for plans to commemorate the stadium at Heritage Field - the future park after the House That Ruth Built meets the wrecking ball. Gate 2 is not in the plans.
"If it gets approved, I think we're through," said John Trush, one of the fans fighting to save the gate.
The Parks Department presented its plans last May to the Design Commission, which approves all permanent works of art, architecture and landscape architecture proposed on or over city property. It granted preliminary approval, with the caveat they make revisions to better incorporate the stadium's history.
At next week's meeting, with Gate 2 crusaders making their pitch, the commission will decide the department's revised plans for the old Yankee Stadium.
A Parks spokesman said the revised design will have some of the old stadium's frieze, historical plaques and markers, and one of the baseball diamonds will follow the same alignment as the old infield.
Fans have organized over the Internet to try to save the gate, envisioned as a historical landmark and an entrance to Heritage Field for community sports use. They have met with various city officials, including from the Bronx borough president's office.
"Our chances were a million to one when we started this," said Trush, "and now it's 50-50."
City officials argue the gate would have to be stabilized and restored, which could cost $10million. They also question the gate's historical value, claiming it was significantly altered in the stadium's renovation in the 1970s.
But others disagree.
"The argument falls down when you take a look at the plans for the site," argued Bronx borough historian Lloyd Ultan. "Most of what they're saving is from the 1970s structure."
He said about 85% of the gate's structure is from the 1920s.
And the plan's backers said volunteer architects say saving the gate would cost as little as $1million.
Ultan argued that saving the gate "would serve the same function for future generations as the Roman forums serve in Rome today."Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/09/28/2009-09-28_last_pitch_to_save_gate_2.html#ixzz0SQcaUvMi