Land Tek helps build new field

Marty Lyons Friends Turn Out to Help ‘Challenge America’ And LandTek Create a World-Class Soccer Field at East River Park

December 14, 2001, Amityville, NY − Picture Mick Foley, ’Mankind’ of wrestling fame, riding on a life-sized Tonka toy, allowing cascades of rubber pellets to rain down on a soccer field of artificial turf. Add to that Buddy Harrelson, former Met, on a Spider, brushing the grass into life-like blades. These sports celebrities were among many who came to East River Park on December 13 to help Marty Lyons and the LandTek Group, which builds athletic fields and golf courses, meet the goal of ’Challenge America’. A lush, green soccer field of artificial grass is replacing the dirt and weeds once found at the park, located at FDR Drive and Sixth Street in New York City. Marty Lyons and Al Trautwig taped the Jets Journal from the soccer field yesterday, which was almost three-quarters finished. And they and the LandTek crew worked long after midnight installing turf.

Marty Lyons' helpers were Mick Foley, ’Mankind’ of WWF fame; Buddy Harrelson, former NY Met; Al Trautwig, sportscaster; Joe Klecko, member of NY Jet ’Sack Exchange’ with Marty Lyons; Bruce Harper, former NY Jet; Bo Dietl, private investigator and radio personality; Bobby Ojeda, former NY Met and coach of the Coney Island Cyclones; John Nitti, former NY Jet and Giant; Ken Schroy, former NY Jet; Randy Newman, former boxing referee; ‘Fireman Ed’, famous Jets fan; and football players from the NYPD team along with NYFD personnel.

The LandTek Group of Amityville, Long Island, installed the 100,000 square foot of artificial grass for the field. Turf masters are the LandTek Group from Long Island. Marty Lyons, former NY Jet, is the Sales and Marketing Director. The company put down the high-tech grass in record time. Thanks LandTek!

Visit Land Tek's site

LandTek is the exclusive distributor of Edel Grass, a superior artificial grass from Holland that is a leading seller in Europe. The LandTek Group's athletic division builds playing fields and golf courses in the Northeast, including an NCAA Division 1 baseball field at Hofstra University and new natural grass fields for the Staten Island Yankees and the Coney Island Cyclones. The East River Park is the only full size soccer field in Manhattan south of 96th Street.

Marty Lyons is no stranger to helping people. He founded the Marty Lyons Foundation in 1982 to dedicate himself to helping children with life-threatening illness. There are now nine chapters in the U.S. that fulfill special wishes for children.

The LandTek Group is located at 235 County Line Road, Amityville, NY 11701, phone (631) 691-2381. To speak with Marty Lyons or Mike Ryan of LandTek, contact Denise Pace or Julie Rulon Greene at The Halo Group, (631) 543-9700.

Thanks to Julie Rulon Greene for the info - ed.