14 Sep ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCED NEW SOCCER FIELD AND MODERNIZED SOFTBALL FIELDS ARE COMPLETED IN ESSEX COUNTY BELLEVILLE PARK
Published on September 14, 2024
Belleville, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that the modernization of two Little League baseball/softball fields and the creation of a soccer field in Essex County Belleville Park in Belleville were completed on Friday, September 13th. 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 by creating the first formal soccer field in the park,” DiVincenzo said.
“The County Executive always takes seriously requests from the community and the addition of the soccer field was one of them. These improvements will be wonderful assets for the community,” Commissioner President Carlos Pomares said. “This is another project that best exemplifies the leadership of our County Executive and the great working relationship between Joe and the Board of Commissioners. It’s great to see what is happening in our parks,” Commissioner Brendan Gill said.
“I commend Joe for another great parks project. While this park may be owned by the County, it has Belleville’s name on it. We are proud of this park and this is a great investment in our community,” Belleville Mayor Michael Melham said.
“I can’t thank you enough. We have already started using this field and last night we had over 100 athletes practicing here. This is fabulous,” Belleville Soccer Association President Charlie Hood said.
“I am always about doing what is best for our children. This gives them a great place to play and a safe place to play,” said Belleville resident Eleanor Guarino, a longtime advocate for the park.
Two existing Little League baseball/softball fields were modernized with an improved underground drainage system and synthetic playing surfaces on the infield portions of both fields. The outfields of both fields had natural turf sod installed and will remain as natural grass. New fencing, covered dugouts, bleachers for spectators, pathways and landscaping have been installed. A third softball field was replaced with a new synthetic surface soccer field that also is lined for lacrosse. Pathways through the park and landscaping also were updated.
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 monitored the project to ensure delays were avoided. The project was 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.
