ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO UNVEILS PLANS

TO DEVELOP SYNTHETIC GRASS SURFACE SOCCER FIELD

IN ESSEX COUNTY MONTE IRVIN ORANGE PARK

Improvements will Address Overuse of Popular Soccer Field

by Providing a Modern and Safe Playing Field

Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced plans to develop a synthetic grass surface soccer field in Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park on Wednesday, April 15th. The improvements are part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to revitalize the historic Essex County Park System and provide modern recreation facilities for the community.

“We are adapting Monte Irvin Orange Park to meet the changing needs of the community and providing a first-class recreation facility by installing this new field. There has been a tremendous growth in the number of people who come here to play soccer and the popularity of the sport has resulted in wear and tear on the field. The synthetic surface will enhance playing conditions and enable us to maximize the use of the field,” DiVincenzo said. “This project is another example of what we are able to accomplish with the support of the State’s Green Acres program and our Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund. This State-County partnership is having a direct impact on our residents’ quality of life,” he added.

“The County Executive has done a great job improving all of the County parks, but we are especially happy that an upgraded soccer field will be added in the City of Orange,” said Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. “Soccer is very popular sport and these improvements will enhance the quality of recreational opportunities for our residents,” he added.

“We really appreciate the work that the County Executive does to ensure that all of our County parks are well maintained and we thank him for the new soccer field that will be added to Monte Irvin Orange Park,” said Orange Council President Lisa Y. Perkins. “The City looks forward to partnering with the County for future projects,” she added.

The New Jersey Education Consortium (NJEC), a not-for-profit organization, formed on the premise that education, hard work, and positive associations are the foundation for grassroots community building, broad economic development, and sustainable community renewal. The NJEC strives to better the lives of children in New Jersey through education and to develop and administer high-impact, school-based partnerships and other cooperative programs striving to advance academic excellence.

“Finding suitable recreational space is often a challenge for urban schools that often hinders them from offering the much-needed programming to our youth,” said NJEC Executive Director Kamaal Bennett. “The NJEC provides after school activities for 10 schools in Essex County and on behalf of the schools we represent, the students and their families, we are proud to partner with Essex County and donate $100,000 to help with the upgrade of this soccer field,” he added.

The field on the south side of the park between the gardens and basketball court is heavily used for soccer. The constant play has taken its toll on the natural turf and the playing field is worn out. The installation of the synthetic grass will maximize use of the area and provide a modern and safe playing field for the community. The regulation-size field will be lined for soccer, have an Essex County Seal at midfield and bleacher seating. A four-foot high fence will be erected along the perimeter of the field to enhance safety. The field will not be lighted.

“We are pleased to support the County Executive and help implement his vision to provide the most modern and safe recreation facilities for our residents. The community relies on the Monte Irvin Orange Park and the other Essex County Parks for recreation and relaxation, and the matching grant funds from the Trust Fund help these projects get done without burdening the taxpayers,” said Lori Tanner, Chairwoman of the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

French & Perrello Consulting Engineers from Wall received a $79,000 contract to design the synthetic surface soccer field. LandTek Group, Inc. of New York was awarded a competitively bid contract for $997,840 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works is monitoring the project to resolve questions and ensure delays are avoided. The project is being funded with the Multi-Park Improvement Grant from the NJ Green Acres program and a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

Revitalizing Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park

DiVincenzo’s administration has completed several improvement projects in Monte Irvin Orange Park as part of a comprehensive initiative to revitalize the Essex County Park System.

Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park was renamed in honor of baseball legend Monte Irvin in May 2006. Irvin was raised in Orange, was one of the first African Americans to play in the Major Leagues and was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. In addition, a memorial recognizing the valor of Orange Police Detective Kieran T. Shields was dedicated in April 2007. Shields lost his life on August 7, 2006, while attempting to apprehend a shooting suspect.

A $1.2 million facelift to upgrade the park entrances, gardens, baseball fields and pond area was completed in April 2007. The basketball court and restroom building were rebuilt in May 2006 for $527,968. Modern equipment and a rubberized safety surface were installed in the playground in March 2004. The colorful playground surface and game area made the facility the centerpiece of the Park and established a new standard for the playgrounds that Essex County has since built. The improvements were funded with grants from the NJ Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

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 18 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, three off-leash dog facilities and a castle. At 47.63 acres, Orange Park is the sixth largest County park in Essex and is considered to be part of the original County Park System designed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architectural firm. Property for Orange Park was purchased in 1897, making it one of the oldest county parks in the country.

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