HILLSDALE—More than 20 residents raised concerns at the Dec. 3 council meeting about a $6.5 million plan to overhaul Memorial Field, citing impacts from lighting, traffic, noise, likely tax increases, and public safety issues.
Mayor Michael Sheinfield and other officials emphasized that residents will have additional opportunities to share input, including at Planning Board meetings and council discussions. Administrator Mike Ghassali said residents will have at least four more chances to comment before any final design is approved.
The concept plan proposes 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 is available under a “Memorial Field Plan” link on the borough’s website, alongside the Nov. 13 Colliers Engineering presentation. (See “Debate over tentative $6.5 million concept for Memorial Field,” Michael Olohan, Nov. 25, 2024, thepressgroup.net.)
Concerns Over Scale, Lighting, and Costs
Residents at the meeting echoed objections raised at the Nov. 13 town hall, saying the proposed upgrades are too large for Hillsdale, too costly, and fail to address improvements needed at other local fields.
For 45 minutes, residents spoke about lighting impacts, safety concerns, and the project’s potential to disrupt a quiet residential neighborhood. Some said they first learned of the plan from a neighbor’s lawn sign urging attendance at the meeting.
Hopper Street resident Greg Perini argued that the proposal doesn’t solve longstanding issues with Hillsdale’s other recreational fields. “We need to fix all of our fields because fixing one is not going to alleviate the problems,” he said. Perini also questioned whether the town could manage the project without raising taxes, citing issues with past library and Centennial Field upgrades.
Washington Avenue resident Christopher Martin said it was “completely unacceptable” that more than 30 homes could be affected by new field lighting, calling it a quality-of-life issue. He also raised concerns about traffic and parking, noting that cars often speed on Washington Avenue.
Several residents pointed to the town’s financial landscape, with increased taxes expected from the George White Middle School bond and a town-wide property revaluation likely in 2026.
Safety and Environmental Issues Highlighted
Hopper Street resident James Swatek, a former coach and three-decade Hillsdale resident, said emergency access points are missing from the initial proposal. He added that the Environmental Commission head advised against artificial turf, citing environmental concerns.
Swatek referenced an ongoing Montclair and Rutgers University study of artificial turf’s environmental impact, suggesting Hillsdale officials take note. “If lights are added to Memorial Field,” he warned, “you’re going to turn it into a city field, not a suburban field.”
Lincoln Terrace resident Andrew Davis raised safety concerns, pointing to an NFL study that found higher injury rates on artificial turf compared to natural grass. He said the upgraded field should serve local residents, not be rented to other towns.
Calls for Community Involvement and Compromise
Several residents urged more community involvement in the planning process. Hillsdale Avenue resident Daniel Galligan asked for buffer zone plans to protect property values and proposed appointing three residents to attend all meetings related to the upgrades. “This $6.5 million project will destroy that part of town unless the community gets involved ASAP,” he said.
Councilwoman Janetta Trochimiuk called the proposal “the beginning of the process” and said discussions will continue into 2025. She noted differing opinions among parents and neighbors, adding, “There has to be some compromise. Everyone needs to have their concerns heard and addressed.”
Council President John Escobar, leaving office after the Dec. 17 meeting, expressed hope the council could “come together and do something nice for the town.”
Next Steps
The council emphasized that residents’ input will shape the project’s final design. Councilman Robert Colletti said all feedback would be considered, while former Councilman Frank Pizzella urged engineers to add buffers between amenities and homes.
“Renovating Memorial Field will greatly improve the ability of local teams to use the field more intensively,” Councilman John Ruocco told Pascack Press, “but with the majority of taxpayer families not involved in the use of the fields, the costs of the project need to be kept manageable.”