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RINGWOOD - DEP approves Martini Field upgrades
(by Teresa Edmond - Staff Writer - September 03, 2008)
RINGWOOD - The barriers that could have held up the Martini Field project have been torn down with state approval to turn the grounds into a user-friendly athletic and recreational field kept green with an irrigation system.
The borough has hired a contractor for the project and received a Highlands Act exemption from the state Department of Environmental Protection, bringing it closer to its goal of revitalizing the field. The Highlands exemption would allow the borough to go ahead with the project, which is located in the environmentally sensitive Highlands Region.
Kelley Rohde, borough clerk and acting borough manager, announced at the Aug. 19 Borough Council meeting that Robert Wogisch Landscape of Ringwood was hired as the project’s contractor for $226,280. Rohde also announced the Highlands Act exemption.
Open space grant money worth $80,000 from Passaic County and leftover bond ordinance money from the borough will finance the Martini Field upgrade. There is $202,500 remaining from a 2006 bond ordinance originally used for acquiring and improving Martini Field, according to Borough Manager Scott Heck. The bond ordinance at first amounted to $457,000, and the borough used some of that money to purchase the field for open space.
Bill O’Hearn, a former councilman who addressed the council on Aug. 19, said that he supports the Martini Field project, but would like the council to clarify costs and funding avenues associated with the work.
“I’m happy with the design and glad that the project is going forward, but I’m concerned it seems to cost more than $200,000,” he said.
In a phone interview, O’Hearn said that when he spoke with then borough manager Ken Hetrick last fall, his impression was that the county gave $80,000 to the borough in open space grant money and that the borough would chip in about $20,000 or $40,000.
According to Rohde, Borough Engineer Jeff Yuhas presented the Martini Field project at a Planning Board meeting a few weeks ago.
The borough is focused on starting the project this fall and wrapping it up by spring, weather permitting.
| Comments (1) |
On November 30, 2008 Rosalie said:
The concept of cleaning up Martini Field and making it a user friendly park for borough residents is little more than a veil to create a fenced and locked space to be used by a privileged few. My tax dollars paid for the purchase of this property as well as the upgrades. Unfortunately, the irrigated field required a fence with gates and locks and now sports a sign indicating "Field Closed". Perhaps it is time for my tax dollars to be closed to projects meant to benefit a chosen few. Can someone tell me why a public field, purchased and improved with my tax dollars is closed to the public? Is there a reason than I am not permitted to walk across this field? Who will benefit from this locked field and why am I paying for their privileged property? |
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