HILLSDALE—The borough administrator told Pascack Press on Oct. 29 that the Borough Council would vote on a $377,000 contract for Centennial Field improvements on Nov. 1, with state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) assurances to approve a permit for the former landfill site by early November.
A special Zoom meeting was set for 11 a.m., Nov. 1, to award a contract for the Centennial Field Athletic Complex renovations, according to a borough notice. The council had hoped to bring the contract to a vote soon. (The meeting occurred after our deadline.)
Borough administrator Mike Ghassali expressed “high confidence” after speaking with DEP officials that approval would arrive by early November. The DEP was expected to act within 60 days of the bid opening on Sept. 5.
The lowest bid for Centennial’s drainage and field improvements, from Dakota Construction, came in at $377,164.10. This bid needed awarding within 60 days, but Ghassali said they might seek an extension if the permit is delayed.
“The DEP told us they’re finishing it up, and we should have it by Nov. 5,” Ghassali said.
Previous efforts to upgrade the often-soggy field with synthetic turf were dropped last year due to high costs and concerns about the landfill’s drainage and integrity. Originally, the borough estimated a $4.5 million overhaul but abandoned that plan last fall.
In mid-September, the borough engineer, Nick Chelius of Colliers Engineering & Design, reported that work on Centennial Field’s playing surface and drainage would begin soon after DEP approval. Dakota Construction’s bid was well below the initial $630,000 estimate, and Chelius said the improvements would create “a more functional and playable field,” with sand added to topsoil for better infiltration and underdrains to accelerate drying.
Chelius explained that the plan includes mild grading on both sides of the field to enhance drainage, with a natural grass finish for an improved playing surface. Dakota, a reputable contractor, recently completed a successful turf field project in Glen Rock, he added.
The Environmental Group, the borough’s licensed site remediation professional, noted in the DEP permit application that “stormwater drainage issues have been observed” at Centennial, with the proposed improvements aiming to mitigate surface drainage and support playability. The field serves primarily school-age athletes, and drainage issues have limited its use after rain.
According to the permit, improvements include regrading, topsoil replacement, and shallow perforated underdrains to avoid landfill interference. The project also includes new sod and stormwater management updates, such as an inlet protection system to control erosion.