Irvington To Ask Voters to Approve Field and Track Upgrades

The Irvington Board of Education is considering asking voters to approve a bond to upgrade Meszaro’s Field, Oley Track and possibly East Field that won’t increase taxes.

“All we want to do is fix the problem,” said Irvington School Board President Robert Grados. “It’s been an issue in Irvington for years. What really is bringing it to a head last year was that there were various times during the year that our sports teams and students at recess were unable to use the field because of it’s condition."

The lack of proper drainage and wear-and tear on the field and track, which is used by school district and community groups, has even caused athletes to have to use neighboring district’s fields. 

“The board feels that it has a fiduciary duties to the facilities and we have to provide a safe and reliable playing surface for our fields,” said Grados.

An estimated 300 to 500 athletes per weekday and 100 to 300 athletes a day per weekend day, depending on the event, use Meszaros Field and Oley Track.

According to a report by LAN Associates, the district’s architects, that was prepared for the school board, Meszaros Field has:

• Poor drainage that results in flooding and cancellations
• A hard playing surface
• A difficulty maintaining turf

The school board is currently reviewing proposals for field and track upgrades that include: the installation of a drainage system; the reconstruction of Meszaros Field with a natural or artificial turf; renovation or replacement of the track; and enhancements to East Field.

“I think individual board members probably are leaning certain ways clearly because of the high usage of our fields and the amount of hours a day the fields are used,” said Grados. “That may make people lean toward artificial turf. No decision has been made. We’re rolling this out to the community, and we want to get the community’s input.”

According to LAN, the track is “nearing the end of its useful life” and is in need of repair. The track can be capped with a rubberized surface, however LAN says that the fieldwork could damage the track and that a complete resurfacing would be necessary with the field construction.

East Field is used by 85 to 95 athletes during weekdays and 50 to 75 on weekends in the fall, and has a hard rock surface, with an uneven playing field, poor turf quality and acceptable drainage—the LAN report says.

Grados said while the district has decided that it would like to move forward with putting in a drainage system, resurfacing the track and reconstructing the field with either a natural or artificial turf—they haven’t decided whether they will move forward with upgrades to East Field. Depending on what alternatives and projects are chosen, the work would most likely cost around $2 million. See the attached PDF for project alternatives and costs. 

The board will discuss the project at a meeting on Sept. 20 and decide on the project options. On Sept. 27 the public will have a chance to comment on the options. On Oct. 23 the board would authorize the bond referendum to put before voters on Dec. 18.

“None of those dates are set stone, it’s a hypothetical timeline,” said Grados.

Though Grados says the administration and board does want to see the field completely constructed next summer, they are not going to rush the project.

“We want the public to be a part of the process,” said Grados. “As president of the board I’m not going to suggest that anybody issue a bond for a project that I don’t feel has the support of the majority of the public.”

Though there have been two separate failed referendums for field upgrades—which included lighting, parking lots, bleachers and tennis courts—Grados said this proposal is completely different, especially since it won’t raise taxes. Since the school district is paying off a bond it had this year, those funds that would have been used to pay the bond can be used towards the project.

“What we’re trying to do is to get the community to understand that we need to do this,” said Grados. “The economy is still tough on a lot of people. We understand people don’t want to pay money for things they don’t see they aren’t getting value for. We’re not trying to get the gold standard here, we’re just trying to fix what is broken.”

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