HILLSDALE—The borough’s engineering consultant estimated a new artificial turf field, renovations and redesign at Centennial Field will cost approximately $3.5 million, including about $45,000 in preliminary engineering costs which were approved April 11 by the Borough Council.
Following preliminary engineering work to be conducted, the council will evaluate and discuss a final proposal for work to be undertaken at Centennial Field. According to a Colliers Engineering and Design timeline, a concept plan for Centennial Field should be available by June.
For $44,500, Colliers Engineering and Design will provide survey services including a topographic survey, subsurface utility engineering, survey and plot above-ground utility features, and mark subsurface utilities.
Other services to be performed include evaluating ecological constraints with due diligence studies on wetlands and flood hazard areas.
Charges for each task will total: Survey Services, $17,500; Ecological Evaluation Services, $7,500; and field design concept preparation services, $19,500.
“Specifically, it is our understanding that the improvements currently proposed include the renovation of the existing natural grass rectangular field at the center of the site with synthetic turf. The fields will include a large rectangular field, which can be striped to serve various configurations and sizes of soccer, lacrosse and football,” reads the proposal.
“Field layouts will be explored in an effort to provide preferred orientations and best use the space available. Options to provide additional parking within the complex will be explored. Improvements will also include modification/relocation/upgrade of existing sports lighting, a perimeter walking path, perimeter fencing (as needed), safety netting (as needed) and any other amenities the Borough wishes to incorporate into the completed complex,” the proposal adds.
Once a proposal has been developed and approved, the council may vote on a bond ordinance for such a large capital expense. Last year, the council approved $500,000 as a down payment for future bonding on a possible community center and artificial turf field. So far this year, no movement on a community center has occurred.
Borough Engineer Craig Zimmerman said two concepts would be prepared for the design of an upgraded and artificially-turfed Centennial Field by June.
Zimmerman said the $3.5 million estimate “might be a little high.” He said he’d “rather go high than low in this case.”
Previously, he noted, “It’s a grand undertaking but I think well worth it.” He said he would work closely with the local Recreation Committee on what to leave in or out and create a design, “so everyone is happy with the field.”
Councilman Anthony DeRosa asked whether he foresaw any environmental “roadblocks” since Centennial FIeld is built on a former landfill. Zimmerman noted that no environmental problems were anticipated and noted the state DEP was reducing the monitoring being required.
Zimmerman noted that the artificial turf would be for the soccer field and the other two baseball fields would be improved via drainage, lighting, and amenities such as scoreboards and removable bleachers.
“This is a first step to getting the ball rolling,” he said of proposed engineering and environmental studies.
Following development of a Centennial Field design in June, and after council approval, other tasks and services must be completed.
According to Colliers’ proposal, these are: geotechnical investigation; final design documents and bidding services; vendor coordination, NJDEP permitting, county permitting, and borough approval, all as required; Soil Conservation District certification; and construction administration services.