HILLSDALE, N.J.—The borough administrator said May 6 that a new no-infill synthetic turf—costing approximately $100,000 more than traditional crumb rubber infill—is under serious consideration for Memorial Field’s planned upgrades.
Administrator Michael Ghassali said the new product, called Pivot, is being actively evaluated, with officials reaching out to other municipalities that have installed it. He noted that about 35 installations of Pivot turf have occurred nationwide.
Ghassali said the fields committee, along with himself, is researching the differences between the no-infill and traditional crumb rubber turf. A key concern with crumb rubber, he said, is that the “black pebbles” scatter during play and often end up tracked into homes.
A decision on the turf type is expected within the next few weeks. Meanwhile, Colliers Engineering and Design, the borough’s engineering firm, has begun geotechnical testing and soil borings at Memorial Field. The firm was awarded a $248,500 contract for engineering services on April 15.
Mayor Michael Sheinfield asked whether the added cost of Pivot turf would impact the project’s $5.8 million budget, which officials have said will not raise taxes. He noted the additional $100,000 did not appear to be a financial constraint.
“We do need to make a decision on the turf in the next three weeks,” Ghassali said at the May 6 meeting. Councilman Clemente Osso emphasized the importance of staying on schedule for a May 2026 completion.
Engineer Nick Chelius said that once field borings and analyses are completed later this month, the design phase and project timeline will begin.