HILLSDALE—While wintry weather has delayed Memorial Field’s completion until at least June, the borough’s engineer also noted about $20,000 more will be needed to install a guiderail as a safety measure next to a road above the field, plus landscaping the area.
Overall, project completion was delayed 4-6 weeks due to cold and snowy conditions this winter, said Borough Engineer Thomas Chelius.
Chelius, Colliers Engineering & Design, said March 17 that nearly $5.8 million in improvements should be done at Memorial Field by June, weather permitting, and that it will also cost about $20,000 more to install a guiderail and landscaping along a road above a newly installed retaining wall.
The guiderail is being installed to prevent cars from accidentally going over a steep embankment above the newly improved field, he said. Chelius said officials were not required to put the guiderail there, but safety concerns were raised by councilors.
On March 17, council approved a contract not to exceed $9,500 with Colliers for engineering design and landscaping services for the guiderail project. In addition to engineering services, Chelius estimated that a steel guiderail would cost about $10,000 to install.
Chelius said construction activities at Memorial Field had restarted on March 17, and the ground was mostly thawed.
Administrator Michael Ghassali reported that most local recreational fields should be ready for use by April 1.