releases: http://pascrell.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/pascrell-menendez-announce-major-milestone-for-paterson-s-historic
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://pascrell.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/pascrell-menendez-announce-major-milestone-for-paterson-s-historic | Pascrell, Menendez Announce Major Milestone for Patersons Historic Hinchliffe Stadium | 2014-12-18 | 2014 | 2014-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Bill Pascrell | P000096 | pascrell.house.gov | legacy | PATERSON, NJ – Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and U.S. Senator Robert Menendez announced that legislation introduced by both lawmakers in their respective chambers designating historic Hinchliffe Stadium as part of Paterson’s Great Falls National Historical Park is headed to President Obama’s desk for his signature. Last year, Rep. Pascrell and Sen. Menendez introduced the Hinchliffe Stadium Heritage Act, which was ultimately included in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. “Today is a great day for Paterson. It’s a great day for New Jersey. And it’s a great day for our entire country,” said Rep. Pascrell. “This historic stadium symbolizes the strength and courage of the many players that graced its field, including the great Larry Doby, as they overcame great adversity in pursuit of a more perfect union. The federal government has finally recognized what all Patersonians have known for years: that Hinchliffe Stadium has played a vital role in our nation’s history, and is worthy of preservation and continued appreciation.” "When I look at Hinchliffe Stadium, I see a field of dreams, an enduring reminder of how far we’ve come since the days of 'separate but equal,' when institutional segregation marginalized the work, dreams and achievements of African Americans," said Sen. Menendez. "I see a community coming together, decades after Hinchliffe first earned its place in American history, to preserve the legacy it represents." In 2009, Representative Pascrell, Senator Menendez and the late-Senator Frank Lautenberg introduced the “Great Falls National Historical Park Act,” which was signed into law as a part of the “Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.” The measure designated the Great Falls in Paterson as a National Historical Park and commissioned a study to assess Hinchliffe's potential to be named a National Historic Landmark. Last year the U.S. Department of Interior completed the study, and designated Hinchliffe as a National Historic Landmark. "The designation of Hinchliffe Stadium as part of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is an honor and will aide greatly in restoring, the only baseball stadium in the nation with this distinction, to its past glory," said Mayor Jose 'joey' Torres. "Hinchliffe Stadium has served as a catalyst of change and improvement. During its heyday it represented marginalized communities in American sports. We are thankful for its place in this nation's history and share the joy that now the nation and the world can see the beauty of what we hold dear." Eleven current members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame played on Hinchliffe's grounds, including Larry Doby, Josh Gibson, William Julius “Judy” Johnson, Oscar Charleston, and Leroy “Satchel” Paige. In addition to hosting Negro League baseball, Hinchliffe Stadium was also home to three professional football teams, many auto racing events, and professional boxing. Located within Paterson's National Landmark Historic District, the stadium is directly above the Great Falls National Historical Park. “Hinchliffe Stadium represents an irreplaceable piece of our nation’s history,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Some of our nation’s greatest athletes took to the field there and courageously led the movement to integrate professional sports -- and our country as a whole. Inclusion of the stadium within the broader Great Falls National Historical Park system is an important milestone towards the preservation and reuse of this extraordinary sports venue.” Paterson School Board, the current owner of the stadium, adopted a resolution in support in support of the bill. The bill also had the support of the New Jersey Community Development Corporation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium, the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and former Paterson Mayor and current Chair of the Great Falls Advisory Commission, Pat Kramer. The Hinchliffe Stadium Heritage Act had bipartisan support from 24 cosponsors, including the entire New Jersey congressional delegation. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |