Natalia Corridori, president of Pelham Bay Little League<\/a>, said families have repeatedly encountered those conditions outside the fields, where roughly 250 children participate in sports programs.<\/p>\n Corridori showed elected officials photos and videos documenting tents erected outside the T-ball field, garbage dumped behind the facility and graffiti covering signs and nearby structures. She also described witnessing a man injecting drugs behind bushes just feet away from children playing baseball.<\/p>\n She said members of the volunteer-run organization routinely clean up trash and patch up fencing after individuals cut holes to sleep inside the facility, only to find the same issues again days later.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHow much more can we do as volunteers?\u201d Corridori asked. \u201cWe\u2019re also not security guards, but we want to keep our little ones safe, and there\u2019s only so much we can do. That\u2019s why we\u2019re reaching out to you guys to see how we will work together to address all these issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Bronx Parks Commissioner Jessenia Aponte said multiple city agencies share responsibility for the area because the complex sits on parkland while bordering city streets, MTA property and multiple police precincts. Aponte said Parks has already alerted outreach teams to unhoused individuals in the area and offered additional enforcement patrols, while encouraging league officials to continue documenting issues through 311 so all issues are alerted to the proper agencies.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat can we do to make things better to address these types of issues? This is unacceptable. It\u2019s unacceptable to me. It\u2019s unacceptable to the kids,\u201d Corridori said. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want them seeing this. I don\u2019t want them to think that this is the standard we should be living in for any of us, we deserve better.\u201d<\/p>\n Corridori also presented a long-term vision for transforming the aging complex, where deteriorating infrastructure has left the fields and clubhouse in need of significant repairs<\/a>, into a youth sports campus featuring a climate-controlled dome, indoor batting cages, multi-sport courts, fitness areas, community space and turf fields.<\/p>\n The proposal also includes space for basketball, soccer and volleyball, as well as educational programming, workforce development, after-school activities, community meetings and health and wellness initiatives with improved lighting, accessibility and security around the facility.<\/p>\n Founded in 1954, Pelham Bay Little League serves children ages 4 to 18 through baseball, softball and T-ball programs. Beyond sports, the League also hosts holiday events, food giveaways and community celebrations that draw hundreds of Bronx families annually.<\/p>\n Reach Marina Samuel at\u00a0msamuel@schnepsmedia.com<\/a>. For more coverage, subscribe to our\u00a0newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram!<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Trash](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_5519.jpg\")
Trash outlines the outer perimeter of the Pelham Bay Little League field, near Dunkin Donuts. Photo by Marina Samuel<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_5513.jpg\")
The Pelham Bay Little League field sits along Westchester Ave, under the 6 train. Photo by Marina Samuel<\/p>\n