Athletic Fields, Recreational Area Upgrades Begin In Chester

CHESTER, NJ — With hard hats on and ceremonial shovels in the soil, Chester Township and Morris County officials broke ground on Monday to kick off the improvements project for the Black River Fields.

Nestled on North Road near the Black River Middle School, Chester Area Pool, Telcordia Park and a section of the Patriot’s Path, Chester Township was able to qualify for a $416,250 Open Space grant, signed off by the County of Morris in Nov. 2019.

The improvements project will entail upgrades to sports fields and recreational areas that the township had previously constructed since leasing the acreage from the West Morris Regional High School District for approximately 20 years.

Mayor Marcia Asdal said both Chester Township and Borough, as well as Mendham Township and Borough, have used the fields for five decades for youth sports, which will be the land’s continued main use.

In addition to township employees and residents, present and past members of the Chester Township Council joined Asdal at the ceremony, including Councilmen Tim Drag, Joe DiPaolo, Brian Curley and Mike Inganamort; and past Councilwoman Jacki Spinelli and Mayor Ben Spinelli.

“We are happy to have people here today who helped us along the way,” Asdal said. “This area has been the premier focus for youth sports in Chester Township.”

Morris County Board of County Commissioners Director Stephen Shaw, State Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-25th. Dist., Morris County Parks Commissioner Edward McCarthy and West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education Member Don Storms, were also in attendance at the groundbreaking event.

“What a great project and great effort by two branches of government coming together,” Bucco added.

Shaw said thanks to taxpayer funding, more than 17,600 acres - close to the size of Chester Township - have been preserved in Morris County over the past two decades.

“It [funding] comes from the taxpayers of Morris County, who have overwhelmingly supported open space preservation in Morris County, and we thank all of them today,” Shaw said.

Questions or comments about this story? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.