30 Nov ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES UPGRADES TO ESSEX COUNTY YANTICAW PARK BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELDS Synthetic Playing Surfaces to be Installed on their Infields
Published on November 30, 2023
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced plans to modernize the baseball and softball fields in Essex County Yanticaw Park in Nutley with synthetic playing surfaces on the infields on Thursday, November 30th. The upgrades will reduce maintenance and maximize use of the fields. It is part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to revitalize the Essex County Parks System and provide the most up-to-date recreation facilities.
“The community relies on our Essex County Parks System for fields and facilities to support recreation programs. Therefore, it is imperative that we come up with new ways to make it easier to maintain our fields, provide up-to-date playing conditions and maximize use,” DiVincenzo said. “Improving the infields with synthetic surfaces is a way to address the condition of the field and preserve more natural turfed areas in our parks,” he added.
“Our parks create memories for generations of people who visit here. I thank Joe for creating recreation opportunities for the people who use the park,” Commissioner Brendan Gill said. “The County Executive is second to none with the attention he gives to maintaining and improving our parks I appreciate being your partner on these projects,” Commissioner Len Luciano said.
“I am happy to get the pathway around the fields upgraded; it will be greatly appreciated by the people who walk here. And the improvements to the fields will be a great addition as well,” Nutley Mayor Joseph Scarpelli said.
“I look forward to the improvements planned for Yanticaw Park. The County did the same thing by installing synthetic surface infields in Brookdale Park and it really has made a difference,” said Mike Venezia, Bloomfield Mayor and Assemblyman-elect.
“I cannot thank Joe D. enough for all he does for kids not just in Nutley but throughout Essex County. We have a great partnership with the County, and this is just another example of that,” said Nutley High School Athletic Director Joe Piro, who was accompanied by Nutley Schools Superintendent Kent Bania, Nutley High School Principal Dennis Williams, Nutley high school baseball coach Eric Pazio and Assistant Superintendent for Business Dave DiPisa.
The John Henry Walker Memorial Baseball Field and an adjacent Little League baseball/softball field will have an improved underground drainage system installed and a synthetic playing surface installed on the infields of both fields. The outfields of both fields will remain as natural grass. New fencing, covered dugouts, bleachers for spectators, pathways and landscaping will be installed. In addition, the pathways around the two sports fields will be repaved and additional landscaping planted.
The concept of updating the infields with synthetic playing surfaces and leaving the outfields with natural grass was first introduced in the Essex County Parks System at Brookdale Park. Because of the success of the project, it is being replicated in Essex County Branch Brook Park.
French and Parrello from Wall received a professional services contract of $91,925 to design the field improvements. Zenith Construction from Orange was awarded a publicly bid contract of $1,994,450 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works will monitor the project to ensure delays are avoided. The project is being funded with grants from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and the American Rescue Fund.
Revitalizing Essex County Yanticaw Park
In 2003, the playground was upgraded with new equipment and a rubberized safety surface and, in 2006, it was named the “Essex County Frank A. Cocchiola Playground.” Pathways were repaired in 2006 and Park Drive was reconstructed and repaved in 2008. In 2010, the John Henry Walker Field and two baseball fields along Passaic Avenue were renovated and regraded, pathways in the western section of the park were repaired, the basketball court and the field house on Park Drive was renovated, the bocce court was modernized, perimeter fencing was repaired, and sidewalks and steps were reconstructed. Also in 2010, the three fields off of Park Drive were named as the “Essex County Carmen A. Orechio Recreation Complex” in honor of Mr. Orechio for his more than 40 years of public service as President of the NJ State Senate and Mayor and Commissioner of Nutley. In 2016, Essex County partnered with the Nutley Educational Foundation, Nutley Public School District and the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission to develop an outdoor classroom and amphitheater on the banks of the Third River. In 2019, the basketball court was modernized.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Land for Yanticaw Park was acquired between 1911 and 1914. At 28.75 acres, it is the 11th largest park in the Essex system.