October 11, 2006

Big sports complex to open at Floyd Bennett Field

Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field, the city's original airport, will soon add a giant sports complex under its hangars with a pair of skating rinks, a hockey rink, fitness center and a gymnastics and dance center, the New York Times reports.

The facility will be run by Aviator Sports and Recreation, which will also open the Brooklyn Food Hall of Fame featuring Sweet Melissa and Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.

The space isn't all that easy to access via public transport, but it's possible. From the last stop on the 2/5 lines at Brooklyn College, you hop on the Q35 bus and need to ask the driver to stop across the street from the fields. Other options on the the Aviator website.

The Times story takes a stab at highlighting Floyd Bennett Field's history, including its use by Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes and Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan. Yet the story perpetuates the common misconception about Corrigan's who left Bennett Field headed for Long Beach, Calif., but "accidentally" flew to Ireland. Truth was that Corrigan had sought permission to make a transAtlantic flight, but with WWII already underway in Europer, the government turned down his request. (If you fly JetBlue to Long Beach, you can see the airport's upstairs exhibits on Corrigan.)

Earlier: Newman proposes racetrack for Floyd Bennett Field
Floyd Bennett Field, now and then
JetBlue to add routes to Burbank and Portland in May

October 11, 2006 11:55 AM in Out of Manhattan, Sports

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