HILLSDALE—The Borough Council unanimously approved two measures on Nov. 9 that ended all borough efforts to install an artificial turf field at Centennial Field and stopped borough efforts to possibly construct a second community center at the Stonybrook Swim Club property.
Both resolutions, which ended years-long efforts, followed a raucous council meeting on Oct. 10 when the borough engineer said costs could quadruple to install artificial turf on Centennial Field, and residents questioned what capital funds, or bonded funds, existed for improving and repairing fields around town.
Although the council increased the local tax levy by $500,000 in 2021 to pay for a bond downpayment, the council had not yet bonded for any field improvements, nor approved any field renovation plans.
Resolution 23-278 notes that, “after review of various factors, the Governing Body has decided to cease all current activity and funding with regard to installation of turf at Centennial Field.”
Resolution 23-279 states that following due consideration of the swim club for a potential community center, “The Governing Body has determined that it will take no further action for a Community Center located at Stonybrook Swim Club (and) All Borough Personnel shall cease all activity with regarding to seeking a location for a second Community Center at Stonybrook Swim Club.”
Both efforts had been raised repeatedly by council members over the last few years, with discussions starting and stopping, plus thousands of dollars likely spent on engineering and architect plans.
At the Oct. 10 council meeting, council was told by its borough engineer, Colliers Engineering & Design, that installing synthetic turf on Centennial Field was likely to cost up to four times of initial estimates $4 million to $4.5 million due to having to disturb the underlying landfill cap, regrading, meeting NJDEP standards, and improving site drainage.
(See “Hillsdale public pushes for field upgrades,” Michael Olohan, Oct. 16, 2023, Pascack Press.)
Almost five years ago, when council discussions to improve Centennial began, which was plagued by poor drainage, improvements were estimated at $2.5 million.
Council president Anthony DeRosa, a member of the Fields Committee, said on Nov. 9 that the committee would be meeting soon with heads of local sports associations to discuss the future of Centennial Field, as well as other recreational fields.
Resident Douglas Bagwell said that all recreational fields in town should be evaluated by the Fields Committee, and also suggested officials explore a natural turf field, or lawn, at Centennial due to the increased costs to install synthetic turf there.
He suggested hiring a natural turf expert and DeRosa noted one of the borough engineers teaches turf courses at Rutgers University.
Scores of residents appeared surprised at the Oct. 10 council meeting when council revealed that no bonds had been purchased, nor money put aside, after the council approved a $500,000 annual tax increase in 2021 as a downpayment on a possible $10 million bond for Centennial Field recreational improvements, a second community center, and floodproofing efforts at the DPW facility.
Mayor John Ruocco, who is returning to council next year, has repeatedly called a second community center, recently estimated at $3.5 million, “a luxury we cannot afford” while five council members (excluding Zoltán Horváth) have said the community wanted a second center. As part of the borough’s approved high-density 256-unit Patterson Street Redevelopment project, a 5,000-square-foot community center is being built and provided free as part of the approved project.
Initially, the second community center was to be used for senior activities, though many seniors said it was not needed at a public meeting about two years ago.
However, the council majority said it was always their plan to provide approximately 10,000 square feet of community space, which was why a second center was needed.