EMERSON, N.J.—A proposed $1.9 million refurbishing of two popular recreational fields—Hillman and Villano—will be a priority if the town and school board receive a more than $600,000 municipal park development grant from Bergen County.
A public hearing on the proposed grant is set for Tuesday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m.
The borough filed a letter of intent April 9 to apply for nearly $633,333 in 2021 Bergen County Trust Fund Municipal Program for Park Development funds and must submit a final grant proposal by May 14, according to county officials.
The recreational fields are co-owned by Emerson and the borough Board of Education.
Borough Administrator Robert Hermansen said if funds are awarded they’ll likely be notified by December. He said the turfing of both fields would be done in phase II of the project, at a cost of about $2 million or more, and would likely be applied for in a 2022 county grant.
The borough and local school district will also each be contributing an equal matching amount of funding, $633,300, to complete a multi-phase project with various improvements.
Town and school district must sign a shared-service agreement to complete the matching grant project.
The project will include installation of lighting on three fields, resurfacing of basketball courts, installation of tennis and pickleball courts, a playground, walking track, turf fields, and an amphitheater for outdoor events and concerts, among other improvements.
Hillman Park was established through a generous land donation by Richard Hillman, a 60-year Emerson resident who passed away in 1959. Hillman Park consists of ball fields, playground equipment, and a concession stand.
It is located between the Emerson Public Library and the Emerson Fire House on Thomas Street. Villano Field consists of two baseball fields located behind the Patrick M. Villano Elementary School, off of Linwood Avenue.
Hoffman comes out against grant application
Although no formal vote was taken on submitting a letter of intent to apply, Council President Kenneth Hoffman said he was not in favor of submitting a grant if the borough’s cost was “too high.” He opposed the action.
All other council members were in favor of having the borough’s grant consultant put together a grant application for further review.
“To me it’s not worth it, if the ultimate cost to the town is minimal or nothing, then fine, but if you’re talking about a substantial amount of numbers on it like last year, then I’m a no on it,” Hoffman said.
Hermansen provided details April 6, noting that while the district has a capital reserve fund for such expenses, the borough does not, and must “pay as we go.”
He said artificial turfing of fields would likely be done first, followed by lighting and improvements to the various recreational facilities.
He also noted should council decide to not move forward with its part of the grant via a shared service agreement with the district, the school board could still complete its part of the project.
“This is something that everybody would get something out of and a lot of people would be very jealous of the facilities you’ll have there” when completed, Hermansen said.
He added that it would take “significant time” for the borough’s grant writer to put together the open space grant, and that more “hard numbers” would be available for council review before any final grant submission. This would include vendor estimates for the work needed to complete the improvements.
Hoffman said it surprised him that the school board has such a large capital reserve, and wondered why they did not want to keep it for an emergency such as for expenses not covered by insurance.
Hermansen told Hoffman that submitting a letter of intent or a grant does not obligate the borough in any way. He said if the project is not funded by a matching grant by the borough, the awarded grant funds must be returned to the county.
However, the school board could still continue with its part of the park upgrades.