Community Corner

Equipment, Fields of Dirt at Future Athletic Field Site

Project part of athletic field facility upgrades at Central Park of Morris County.

It eventually is supposed to be the next phase in a series of athletic facility upgrades at Central Park of Morris County. But, right now, it's just construction equipment and dirt. Lots of it.

Early last month, some Parsippany and Morris Plains residents who live near the facility, home to the former Greystone Psychiatric Hospital facility, were suprised to see county crews chop down and mulch 104 trees.

Morris County Parks Commission Executive Director David Helmer said at the time an ongoing project to bring athletic fields to Central Park was continuing and that the second phase of recreation improvements—including artificial turf athletic fields, paved trail and parking areas—was underway. 

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Of the 104 trees taken down, Helmer said at the time 45 were invasive, 21 non-native and 38 native to this region. He also noted 40 of the trees had been considered "in poor condition."

Helmer said 684 trees would be replanted as part of the process, including there and at other county park facilities such as Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

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