HILLSDALE, N.J.—The borough engineer says a final Memorial Field design should be completed by September, and consultations to select on-site amenities — such as bleachers and coaches’ boxes — are ongoing with the Field Committee and borough administrator.
Borough Engineer Nick Chelius of Colliers Engineering & Design told council July 8 that the field design specs should be completed by September, ahead of schedule, and he would continue to consult with the Field Committee over “ancillary site equipment” such as goals and netting systems.
He also reported that recent geotechnical testing of Memorial Field found some shallow groundwater on site but that it would not be a problem for the site’s new upgrades. The $5.8 million field upgrade was approved by council March 11 in a 4–2 vote, with councilors John Ruocco and Janetta Trochimiuk opposed. Voting in favor were councilors Robert Colletti Jr., Justin Fox, Melissa Mazza-Chiong, and Clemente Osso.
Officials said it appeared the Field Committee was leaning to selecting the no-infill synthetic turf known as Pivot, estimated to cost about $100,000 more than traditional crumb rubber-filled artificial turf. The Pivot turf has a styrofoam backing and a 12-year warranty, officials noted, versus an eight-year warranty on traditional turf.
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 requires no watering, pesticides, or fertilizers.
Chelius said they were checking out purchasing co-ops that dealt with both types of turf, depending on what is selected. He said he was “not aware of any sharp increases” in project prices, but warned that prices do go up over time.
Administrator Mike Ghassali said plans for an accessible playground at Memorial — meeting ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines — is planned and a local donor is interested in financing the project. He said he was meeting with the donor soon, and if approved, he said he hoped construction would be simultaneous with field upgrades.
Previously, we reported that on June 17 the Borough Council unanimously approved approximately $5 million in bond financing for upgrades at Memorial Field, including a $500,000 bond down payment. Officials previously said the bond ordinance would not increase local property taxes.
Ghassali said the $5.8 million project will be funded without raising taxes, using $1.2 million from the field reserve account and $4.6 million in bonding.
In mid-March, the council split 3–3 on whether to include field lighting in the initial bid specs. Fox, Mazza-Chiong, and Trochimiuk voted yes; Colletti, Osso, and Ruocco voted no. Mayor Michael Sheinfield broke the tie, voting against lighting but in favor of laying underground conduit for possible future installation.
Chelius then estimated the cost of conduit installation for future lighting at $50,000 to $100,000. He said bollard lights around the walking path would also require conduit and electricity.
Late last year, Chelius presented a concept plan that proposed converting Memorial Field to artificial turf and adding facilities for football, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, pickleball, a walking path, and a playground. A rendering of the proposed upgrades was available under a “Memorial Field Plan” link on the borough’s website, alongside the Nov. 13 Colliers Engineering presentation.
(See also “Debate over tentative $6.5 million concept for Memorial Field,” Michael Olohan, Nov. 25, 2024, thepressgroup.net.)
Residents at the meeting echoed objections raised at the prior Nov. 13 town hall and Dec. 3 council meeting, saying the proposed upgrades were too large for Hillsdale, too costly, and failed to address improvements needed at other local recreation fields.