Floyd Bennett Field Set for a Fresh Start

By Y.M. Lowy
Once an active air base and most recently a temporary home for hundreds of migrant families, Floyd Bennett Field is gearing up for a major overhaul as it seeks new leadership.
Mayor Eric Adams announced that the migrant shelter, which has housed up to 500 families since September 2023, will close on January 15. The closure is part of a broader plan to shut down over two dozen migrant shelters in New York City.
Criticized for his handling of the crisis, Mayor Adams secured a lease with the federal government to use sections of the airfield’s runways as a temporary solution. Now, as the migrants prepare to leave, the focus shifts to the airfield’s future.
The space has been managed by Aviator Sports & Events Center since 2003, but with the lease expiring two years ago, it’s anyone’s game. The National Park Service is searching for a new operator to breathe life into the recreational facilities housed in the site’s massive, historic hangars. Picture this: a revamped Aviator Sports Center, with its swimming pool, ice rink, rock climbing wall, and athletic fields buzzing with activity once again.
From its origins as an air base to a sports hub and even a shelter, it has served Brooklyn in countless ways. Now, it’s ready for a fresh start.