08 Oct ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES PROJECT TO MODERNIZE LITTLE LEAGUE/SOFTBALL FIELD IN CEDAR GROVE The Updated Field will be the Home Field for the Essex Count West Caldwell School of Technology Softball Team and Cedar Grove Little League
Published on October 8, 2022
Cedar Grove, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that a project to modernize a little league/softball field in Cedar Grove with a synthetic grass playing surface is underway on Friday, October 7th. It will become the home field for the Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology Eagles girls’ softball team as well as continuing to be utilized by the Cedar Grove Little League. The field improvement is a partnership between Essex County and the Essex County Schools of Technology District.
“The significant investments we are making in all of our Schools of Technology to provide students with the most up-to-date learning environment extends beyond the walls of the building. We are continually looking at opportunities to make available the fields and facilities for extracurricular activities that will round out their high school experience,” DiVincenzo said. “We are pleased to partner with our Schools of Technology District to create a first-class field for our West Caldwell girls’ softball team. The improved field also will benefit the Cedar Grove Little League and other local recreation programs,” he added.
“Developing modern recreation fields are exactly what our children need and our families need. Recreation programs saves lives, keeps children active and helps them develop socially,” NJ State Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz said.
“County Executive DiVincenzo cares about recreation facilities and has done a wonderful job improving our parks and fields offered to our residents,” Commissioner Patricia Sebold said.
“Student development occurs while learning in a classroom setting but also as a member of an athletic team or by participating in an enrichment activity. The new field will heighten the pride our students-athletes have in their team and encourage them to improve and become more competitive,” Essex County Schools of Technology Superintendent Dr. James Pedersen said. “I want to thank the County Executive for his continued support of our students and district and ensuring we have the resources and facilities to provide a first-class education,” he added.
“This is another tremendous facility for our students to play as a team on and for the community to come and support us. This is exciting for our students,” Schools of Technology Athletic Director Gerhard Sanchez said.
“I want to thank everyone who contributed to make this new field possible. We are grateful for this new facility and can’t wait to play our games here,” Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology senior Michelle Pichardo said.
“I got started in municipal affairs getting a recreation program started for toddlers. I promised they will always have a place to play and this modern facility will provide them with a field they can be proud of,” Cedar Grove Mayor Joseph Maceri said.
“Everything Joe does is spectacular. Look at everything he has done throughout the County. The collaboration between Cedar Grove and Essex County has been tremendous and will continue with this updated field,” retired Cedar Grove Manager Tom Tucci said.
“This will be another great addition to the township and we look forward to our continued partnership with Essex County,” Cedar Grove Recreation Director Marisa Landolfi-Jefferson said.
The natural grass field, located at the intersection of West Bradford Avenue and Grove Avenue in Cedar Grove, will be upgraded with a synthetic playing surface on both the infield and outfield. The field will be 200 feet from home plate to straight away center field. A fenced in batting cage area will created beyond the right field fence and bleachers for spectators will be placed beyond the right field and left field fences. A paved walkway around the perimeter of the outfield fence will provide access to the bleachers and batting cage. The player dugouts will be made of chain link fence with a canopy. Additional space between the field and sidewalk will be created. A new scoreboard will be placed beyond the right field fence.
French and Parrello engineers from Wall was awarded a professional services contract under an existing contract to design the field improvements. Athletic Fields of America from Montville was awarded a publicly bid contract for $2,132,403 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works will monitor the project to avoid delays. Funding is being provided by the Essex County Schools of Technology District.
Essex County owned the property, which has been leased to Cedar Grove. Essex County has several other similar partnerships in which schools or universities utilize a field in the Essex County Parks System as their home field. When it is not in use, it is available for use by the public or other sports and recreation programs. These include the Seton Hall University women’s softball team utilizing the Mike Shepherd Field in Essex County Ivy Hill Park in Newark, the Rutgers-Newark men’s baseball team utilizing a baseball field in Essex County Weequahic Park in Newark and Essex County Payne Tech utilizing the Ronald L. Rice Sports Complex currently under construction in Essex County Vailsburg Park in Newark.