08 Dec ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCED PLANS TO MODERNIZE SOFTBALL FIELDS AND CREATE A NEW SOCCER FIELD IN ESSEX COUNTY BELLEVILLE PARK
Published on December 8, 2023
Belleville, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced plans to modernize two Little League baseball/softball fields and create a soccer field in Essex County Belleville Park in Belleville on Wednesday, December 6th. The project is part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to revitalize the Essex County Parks System and provide up-to-date recreation facilities that meet the needs of the community.
“We are continually looking for ways to improve our recreation facilities and make visits to our parks more enjoyable for the public. Our parks have become the focal points in the community and residents rely on our open spaces for recreation, respite and rejuvenation. The improvements we are making in Belleville Park will enhance playing conditions and meet the long-range athletic needs of the community,” DiVincenzo said.
“We do announcements for new fields and improvements many times a year. This is a staggering amount of work but the result is amazing and benefits our residents. It takes effective leadership at all levels with the County Executive and the Commissioners working together to get this done,” Commissioner Vice President Carlos Pomares said. “You see how everything is in our Parks System and it’s second to none, top notch. This is the vision of the County Executive and we as a board are happy to support him,” Commissioner Len Luciano said.
“I grew up playing soccer in this park; it is where I scored my first goal. Essex County has been great. When we asked for a concert to be staged here in the summer, they made it happen. And then when we asked for the fields to be upgraded, they agreed to do it. It is an honor to have such a great project happen in Belleville,” said Belleville Mayor Michael Melham, who was accompanied by Deputy Mayor Vincent Cozzarelli and Councilman Steve Rovell.
“The fields have not been playable recently because of weather and wear and tear. Today my prayers have been answered. It’s a beautiful day,” said Charlie Hood, President of the Belleville Soccer Association.
“A park is where children are supposed to be happy and safe and that’s what this is all about. Thank you for taking care of our children,” said 95-year-old Belleville resident Eleanor Guarino, who has been a long-time advocate for the park.
Two existing Little League baseball/softball fields will be modernized with an improved underground drainage system and synthetic playing surfaces on the on the infield portions 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. A third softball field will be replaced with a new synthetic surface soccer field that also will be lined for lacrosse. Pathways through the park and landscaping also will be updated.
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 in Newark and Essex County Yanticaw Park in Nutley.
Neglia Engineering from Lyndhurst received a professional services contract of $130,000 to design the field improvements. Turco Golf Inc. from Pompton Lakes was awarded a publicly bid contract of $2,759,890 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, New Jersey Green Acres Program and the American Rescue Fund.
Revitalizing Essex County Belleville Park
The playground was dedicated as the “Essex County Eleanor Guarino Playground” in honor of Belleville resident and community activist Eleanor Guarino in 2018. The four miles of walking paths and parking areas in the park were repaved and benches and trash receptacles were installed in 2018. The playground was modernized with new apparatus and rubberized safety surface in 2017. The senior building was completely renovated in 2014. In 2005, a new restroom building was constructed in the park along with the original playground being constructed. Improvements in the park have been funded with grants from the NJ Green Acres Program, the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and the Community Development Block Grant Program.
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, four off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. At 32.7 acres, Belleville Park is the eighth-largest park in Essex County’s system. Land for the park was purchased in 1915 and construction of the park was completed in 1922.