Mapes Ballfields

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A dangerous lot transformed into a public amenity

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This was one of the first victories for community groups in Crotona who went on to reclaim empty lots and abandoned buildings, turning them into gardens, playgrounds and affordable housing. It is also a fitting monument to the late Astin Jacobo, a dear friend and community organizer who challenged Koch over the then-empty lot during a town hall meeting in 1983.