Athletic Refurbishments 'Long Overdue,' Mayor Says

Florham Park Mayor Scott Eveland said the athletic refurbishments proposed in the upcoming referndum ballot "are long overdue."

The facilities at Hanover Park High School and Whippany Park High School "have not been touched in 40 or 50 years," Eveland said. The refurbishments "will be beneficial for our community and for the kids in the school system."

Hanover Park Regional High School District Superintendent Carol Grossi presented the proposed refurbishments to the board. She included photos of the current condition of the fields, the tracks and the bleachers to show the public and the Florham Park Council their worn state.

The project has been tailored to the particular needs of both schools, but the scope is similar since fields at both schools are in similar disrepair.

Because of the demanding sports schedule there is little time to recuperate the fields at the end of one season before another begins. Grossi showed pictures of tarps laid down on the fields, which are riddled with brown spots. "Obviously it's winter and nothing's growing," she said. "The lacrosse team is going to be out on these fields in three weeks."

Under the refurbishment plans, both fields will be replaced with synthetic turf which will accommodate boys and girls soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, football and field hockey.

"We have tried our best to maintain and upkeep our fields over the years," Grossi said, who compared the efforts to home improvements. "Eventually you just have to replace it," she said.

Each field will also get a new rubberized D-zone behind the goal posts and a new track with eight lanes, which will enable the schools to host county meets.

Schools will also get new ADA-accessible bleachers, new scoreboards, new sound systems, a new press box above the home bleachers, new lighting with less spillage into the surrounding community, new lights at each end of the fields, new lacrosse goals and nettings and a new field house with locker rooms, concession stands and ADA-accessible bathrooms.

Hanover Park High will also get one new tennis court for a total of five courts.

Principal Thomas Callahan said the improvements will benefit athletic teams, students and members of other student activities, such as the marching band. "Right now the band cannot go on the field and teams cannot practice on the field," he said. "The band practices in the parking lot."

Business Administrator William Albert said the tax impact in Florham Park would be $8.68 per $100,000 of assessed value. The average home in Florham Park is assessed at $664,438, yielding a total tax increase of $57.70 per year for 20 years.

This amount is similar to the $61.92 increase the average East Hanover homeowner will pay if the referendum passes.

If the referendum vote passes, it will give $17.5 million for the project. A breakdown of the costs is outlined in a PDF on the district website.

The vote is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 12.