$7M Athletic Field Upgrades Proposed At Millburn High School: Artificial Turf, Lights

MILLBURN, NJ — A multi-million-dollar proposal to upgrade the athletic field at Millburn High School with artificial turf and lights continues to make the rounds in the township.

Town officials and the board of education are teaming up to pitch the joint project, which would cost between $7.4 million and $7.6 million.

According to the project’s timeline, construction would commence in the summer of 2026. The target completion date is prior to March 2027.

An online presentation outlines some of the reasons for the project, as well as the cost. View it here, and view a feasibility report released for the project in July 2024 here. Learn more about the proposal here.

Here are some of the specifics, according to the presentation:

THE PLAN

If it crosses the finish line, the project would install two, multi-purpose turf fields, including the varsity baseball field.

The turfed fields would be lit, as well as Miller Field (varsity softball).

CHALLENGES

The field is currently operating at a 16 percent deficit in the spring and fall. Impacted programs include soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, baseball, softball, cricket and girls flag football.

Other challenges include weather-related cancellations, postponements and schedule changes, in addition to maintenance issues (irrigation, managing the grass field).

BENEFITS

Turfing and lighting a portion of the complex will add nearly 1120 playable hours for community programs, the proposal says.

The upgrades would also improve cancellations and schedule issues, as well as lightening the maintenance load.

SHARED USAGE, HOURS

Township and community groups are expected to have access from 6 to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays (similar to the current schedule without lights).

Intermittent use for varsity games in the evening hours will be considered when developing the agreement. Maintenance responsibilities and scheduling will be included.

COST

The project cost would break down like this, according to the proposal:

The cost would be split between the township and the school district as follows:

PUBLIC INFO SESSION

The Millburn Recreation Department will host a public information session to discuss the proposal at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Millburn Education Center, 434 Millburn Avenue.

Township residents will be able to ask questions and provide feedback.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.