‘Dreams Do Not Come Easily, but If You Stretch Enough, Nothing Is Out of Reach’ – Harrison Apar, Graduation Speaker, June 2000, Mildred E. Strang Middle School
Harrison Apar Field of Dreams Foundation and Yorktown Athletic Club (YAC) have been community partners since 2003.
Harrison Apar Field of Dreams Foundation and Yorktown Athletic Club (YAC) have been community partners since 2003.
After Harrison Apar passed away in March of that year, officers of Yorktown Police Benevolent Association – Rich Finn, Skip Mackay and Joe Colarausso – were introduced to the Apar family by mutual friend Michele Suraci. At the same time, YAC president Mark Vercruysse lent his support to the formation of a joint fundraising partnership, the Harrison Apar YAC PBA Fund. The first event was a “Rock ‘n’ Cops” softball game in 2003, co-sponsored by Z100 and K104. The Fund continues to award scholarships each year at the Varsity Sports Senior Awards Banquet hosted by the Yorktown High School Athletic Department and Yorktown Huskers Club.
Bruce Apar, who manages the Harrison Apar Field of Dreams Foundation with wife Elyse and daughter Elissa, supported by many volunteers, has served on the YAC board since 1994.
Over the years, the Foundation has made numerous donations for the betterment of local recreation and education. It has joined with YAC to sponsor new gymnasium scoreboards, DARE t-shirts, town ballfield bleachers, high school field upgrades, and awards for youth sports that recognize extraordinary efforts regardless of athletic ability.
Each spring, to mark opening day of the YAC baseball season, a brief pre-game ceremony is held at Harrison Apar Field of Dreams. A player reads aloud the dedication plaque at the foot of the flagpole. Pictured is Joey DiPanfilo.
HARRISON FIELD OF DREAMS PLAQUE INSCRIPTION
The following inscription appears on the plaque at the foot of flagpole at Harrison Apar Field of Dreams, on Benjamin Boulevard in Yorktown Heights.
The flagpole at the field was donated by the Harrison Apar YAC PBA Fund. The original flag flown at the field was presented to the Harrison Apar Foundation by U.S. Representative Sue Kelly, who wrote, “Harrison demonstrated a continued love of athletics. … It is only appropriate that he is memorialized with an athletic field. … You have brought great honor to the already rich legacy of your son.” YAC's Opening Day Parade in spring 2004 began with a special ceremony at Apar Field where the flag and flagpole were officially dedicated.
HARRISON APAR FIELD OF DREAMS
Dedicated September 7, 2003
‘Dreams do not come easily, but if you stretch enough,
nothing is out of reach.’ Harrison Apar
Standing as tall as this [38-inch high] pedestal due to dwarfism, and braving lifelong heart-and-lung disease, Harrison Apar’s inner strength inspires us to live every day true to his uplifting legacy.
He was beloved by the community for his wit, positive attitude and passion for sports, especially baseball, which he played and umpired for Yorktown Athletic Club.
Upon his passing, after heart surgery, an outpouring of support, led by seventh grade students Brendan Frail and Ali Belcastro, convinced the Town of Yorktown to dedicate this park (formerly Pinetree Field) to a little person who forever will be looked up to as a model of courage, pride and excellence.
As the first public place named for a child of Yorktown, this
Field of Dreams is testament to the joyful spirit of children everywhere. Listen closely, and you may hear Harrison
call out two of his favorite words: Play Ball!
HARRISON APAR
November 29, 1987 -- March 21, 2003
MAY WE STAND AS TALL AS HE DID
The original flag at this site was flown over the U.S. Capitol on
August 4, 2003 in honor of Harrison Apar Field of Dreams.
Originally called Pinetree Field, Harrison Apar Field of Dreams was dedicated in September 2003 after a petition with 2,000 signatures convinced the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Town Board to approve the change. Pictured at the dedication are (from left) Elissa, Bruce & Elyse Apar.
Despite a rare form of dwarfism that severely limited his height and physical flexibility, Harrison Apar played and officiated basketball and baseball for YAC.
Harrison Apar Field of Dreams Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
corporation registered in the state of New York
P.O. Box 1383
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
914.275.6887 [email protected]
