HILLSDALE, N.J.—A final design for Hillsdale’s nearly $6 million Memorial Field overhaul is expected at the April 15 Borough Council meeting, with artificial turf the likely surface and infrastructure for future field lighting to be installed—though not yet funded. The borough’s engineer says underground conduit will be laid during this phase to avoid significantly higher costs later.
Meanwhile, officials are exploring a high-performance, no-infill turf called Pivot. The project, capped at $5.8 million, will be funded through bonding and years of local savings. Turf vs. grass remains a point of contention.
Borough Engineer Nick Chelius, of Colliers Engineering and Design, said on April 1 that while lighting foundations are not included in the current design, electrical conduit will be installed now to accommodate possible lighting upgrades in the future. He described the conduit cost as “pretty insignificant” when bundled with the rest of the work.
Chelius estimated that the installation of foundations and light poles at a later date could range from $250,000 to $750,000, partly due to tariffs on steel, concrete, and other raw materials. Currently, field lighting is not included in the improvement plan, officials confirmed.
Administrator Mike Ghassali said the Fields Committee is evaluating several turf options, including Pivot, a product by TenCate that contains no infill or crumb rubber. Designed to mimic the playability of natural grass, Pivot turf reportedly costs between $8 and $18 per square foot, according to a company press release.
Committee members recently visited a Pivot installation in Haworth and plan to visit another in North Brunswick. Ghassali said the committee has been comparing samples of traditional turf and the Pivot brand.
According to the company, Pivot turf reduces plastic shedding by nearly 100% because it uses no infill; it is recyclable, has no detectable levels of PFAS, PAHs, or lead, and meets FIFA, NFL, and NCAA testing standards. It also requires no watering, pesticides, or fertilizers.
Chelius also reported that recent rainstorms showed “significant improvement” in drainage at Centennial Field, where sod installation is underway. He said the borough will assume maintenance after five mowings, expected by Memorial Day. Ghassali noted the council will soon solicit bids for a maintenance contract for the renovated field.
On March 11, the council voted 4–2 to approve Resolution 25-102, authorizing the Memorial Field improvement plan and setting a spending cap of
$5.8 million. Councilmembers Robert Colletti Jr., Justin Fox, Melissa Mazza-Chiong, and Clemente Osso supported the measure; John Ruocco and Janetta Trochimiuk opposed it.
Ghassali said that following a 2021 budget increase, the borough has been allocating $500,000 annually into a field improvement account. Of the total project cost, $1.2 million will come from that fund, with the remaining
$4.6 million covered through bonding. He emphasized that as long as the project remains within budget, there will be no impact on annual property taxes. Nearly $400,000 from the field improvement account is being used for ongoing work at Centennial Field.
In a separate vote, council members—by a 5–1 show of hands—opted to install artificial turf over natural grass on the roughly 120,000-square-foot Memorial Field. Ruocco cast the lone vote for grass, citing health, safety, and environmental concerns tied to synthetic materials.