HILLSDALE—An official groundbreaking for the long-awaited $5.8 million Memorial Field improvement project will take place Monday, Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m., following last-minute design and cost adjustments that brought the project within the borough’s budget cap, officials tell Pascack Press.
Borough Administrator Mike Ghassali said Oct. 14 that several project components were trimmed to stay under the $5.8 million total authorized by the Borough Council in a 4–2 vote in March.
(See “Pressure to keep Memorial Field project costs to $5.8M,” by Michael Olohan, Oct. 13, 2025, thepressgroup.net.)
Ghassali said that following Monday’s ceremonial groundbreaking, the first work on site will involve clearing materials from inside the park to prepare for construction. He also sought to correct what he called “misinformation,” clarifying that the Pivot artificial turf, manufactured by GeoSurfaces, a Tencate company based in St. Gabriel, La., will be recycled as part of the installation.
Resident Rick Savino asked when the municipal project would go before the Planning Board. Ghassali said a brief presentation was being scheduled. Borough Attorney Mark Madaio explained that the Planning Board’s role is limited to confirming consistency with the borough’s Master Plan; final approval and funding authority rest with the council.
Ghassali outlined several cost-saving changes developed with borough engineer Nick Chelius and the Fields and Recreation Committee:
- Using less expensive retaining blocks;
- Building only one coaches’ box at midfield instead of three, saving about $400,000; and
- Reducing soil removal from the site, saving about $100,000.
He added that DPW workers will assist with field cleanup, further reducing costs. In addition, he said the borough “challenged” some prices from the general contractor and subcontractors, resulting in additional savings.
Ghassali said floodlights will be installed on the park’s west side near the field house and in the parking lot. Electrical conduit will be laid around the walking path, but pathway and field lighting are not included in the current phase.
Lighting has been a contentious issue among nearby residents concerned about neighborhood impacts. Councilmember John Ruocco asked if lights could be turned off at a set time; Ghassali said that could be arranged.
He noted that the artificial turf’s lifespan is about 10 to 12 years, and lighting or other upgrades could be reconsidered at that point.
Councilmember Robert Colletti added that a concrete pad will be installed for a future coaches’ box on the baseball field side, and Ghassali confirmed that another pad will accommodate donated ADA-compliant playground equipment.
On March 11, the Borough Council voted 4–2 to approve Resolution 25-102, authorizing the field improvement plan and capping spending at $5.8 million. Robert Colletti Jr., Justin Fox, Melissa Mazza-Chiong, and Clemente Osso voted in favor; John Ruocco and Janetta Trochimiuk opposed.
Ghassali said that since a 2021 budget increase, the borough has allocated $500,000 annually into a field improvement account. About $1.2 million from that account, combined with $4.6 million in bonding, will finance the upgrades. He emphasized that no annual tax increase is expected as long as costs remain within the approved cap.