$2.8M In Field Renovations Coming To Belleville Park: Here’s The Plan

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Over the past year, Essex County has been renovating athletic fields across the region. Now, it’s Belleville’s turn, officials say.

On Wednesday, Essex County officials announced a $2.88 million plan to modernize two Little League baseball/softball fields and create a soccer field in Belleville Park. The county-run park forms an extension of Branch Brook Park and spans 32.70-acres.

Here’s what to expect, officials said:

“Two existing Little League baseball/softball fields will be modernized with an improved underground drainage system and synthetic playing surfaces on the on the infield portions of both fields. The outfields of both fields will remain as natural grass. New fencing, covered dugouts, bleachers for spectators, pathways and landscaping will be installed. A third softball field will be replaced with a new synthetic surface soccer field that also will be lined for lacrosse. Pathways through the park and landscaping also will be updated.”

County officials said Neglia Engineering of Lyndhurst received a professional services contract of $130,000 to design the field improvements. Turco Golf Inc. from Pompton Lakes was awarded a publicly bid contract of $2,759,890 to perform the construction work.

The project is being funded with grants from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund, New Jersey Green Acres Program and the American Rescue Fund.

“The improvements we are making in Belleville Park will enhance playing conditions and meet the long-range athletic needs of the community,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

Several Belleville township officials agreed.

“I grew up playing soccer in this park – it’s where I scored my first goal,” said Mayor Michael Melham, who was accompanied at a news conference to announce the renovations alongside Deputy Mayor Vincent Cozzarelli and Councilman Steve Rovell.

Charlie Hood, president of the Belleville Soccer Association, said the fields at the park haven’t been playable recently because of weather and “wear and tear.”

The news also got a thumbs-up from Belleville resident and community activist Eleanor Guarino, 95, who has been a longtime advocate for the park and has a playground there named in her honor.

“Thank you for taking care of our children,” Guarino said.

The concept of updating the infields with synthetic playing surfaces and leaving the outfields with natural grass was first introduced in the Essex County Parks System at Brookdale Park. Because of the success of the project, it is being replicated in Essex County Branch Brook Park in Newark and Essex County Yanticaw Park in Nutley.

• See Related: $2M In Upgrades Coming To Yanticaw Park Athletic Fields In Nutley
• See Related: $3.7M In Field Upgrades At Brookdale Park Hit Finish Line

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