HILLSDALE—The borough administrator says the engineer would make approximately a dozen changes to the proposed $6.5 million Memorial Field plan recently requested by residents and would allow field neighbors to offer input on the revised plan before its presentation at the Feb. 11, 2025, council meeting.
Speaking at the Dec. 10 council meeting, administrator Mike Ghassali outlined a proposed Memorial Field project timeline for the field’s upgrades, which concludes with the field opening in spring 2026. A link to the timeline is posted at the top of the borough’s website.
Ghassali said based on feedback from the Nov. 13 town hall, he directed the engineer, Nick Chelius, of Colliers Engineering & Design, to make specific changes, including:
- Move the parking lot from the south side to the north side;
- Remove the pickleball courts and add an additional basketball court;
- Shift the entire field slightly east to make more room for where the fieldhouse is;
- Give plans for a neighborhood buffer and landscaping design;
- Keep field lights in the plan, but turn them off by 9 p.m.; lights will not be on when no games are scheduled;
- Have police, fire and EMS departments review the plan and offer recommendations;
- Assess Hopper Street and surrounding roads for possible permit-only parking for residents.
In addition, Ghassali said three future dates in specific towns will be announced so that interested residents can see what the proposed field lights look like in action. Moreover, he said the chief financial officer will devise a financing plan for the project before it is publicly presented on Feb. 11.
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 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 Nov. 13 town hall and Dec. 3 council meeting, saying the proposed upgrades are too large for Hillsdale, too costly, and fail to address improvements needed at other local recreation fields.
Public Comments
Approximately 18 residents offered comments, with a majority opposed to the proposed multi-sport complex for reasons voiced previously, including light pollution, noise, traffic, and public safety concerns. Several residents mentioned that studies had shown potential injuries were more common on artificial fields.
Also, several sports association directors and coaches told councilors that the changes and investment planned at Memorial Field were long-needed, positive for the community, and most importantly, a huge boost for local athletes who have had to cope with often-inadequate fields that are in poor condition or unplayable following inclement weather.
Others noted that local home property values would increase as new, modern playing fields are built in town. Others stressed that the artificial turf field could be used for multiple sports, with little field downtime.
While some residents favored natural sod over the proposed artificial turf due to alleged injuries, some also said natural sod requires periods when sports cannot be played so the fields can rest and are not overused.
Other commenters said parent volunteers often are surprised at the workload that falls on volunteers to find alternate facilities when it rains and games need to be moved.
Westdale Avenue resident Rick Savino questioned the $6.5 million cost, which Ghassali previously said was likely on the high side, noting the high cost left little funding for other parks in town to undergo improvements.
He also questioned the disposal cost of a turf field, noting the turf field’s anticipated lifespan was shorter than the proposed 15-year or 20-year bond term. He said the turf field investment “does not seem financially prudent.”
Washington Avenue resident Kristin Martin said that nobody wants to live near a big sports complex with bright lights. She cited the recently approved middle school bond referendum tax impacts and high costs for disposal of the proposed artificial turf field.
She said residents around Memorial Field have a right to a “peaceful existence,” noting the proposed sports complex will bring noise and “take away” from the neighborhood. She also called on residents using social media to comment on the proposed Memorial Field plan to refrain from bullying and name-calling.
Lincoln Terrace resident Michael Fox said the condition of local fields has been talked about for two decades, and mostly efforts to improve them have “failed in general.” He said the focus should be on the safety of children and players using the sports facilities. He said $6 million should be enough to improve Memorial Field and other rec fields too.
He suggested that the upgrades planned at a recreation field at George White Middle School were taken off the referendum and that field’s upgrade should possibly be a future consideration. He said work needs to be done on all local fields.