SCOTCH PLAINS – The Recreation Commission this week discussed potential ways to expand the usage of some of the sports fields in town—specifically at Memorial Field and Farley Avenue Park—to accommodate the growing number of young people playing baseball, softball and soccer.
At its monthly meeting, held on Monday at Memorial Field, several representatives from local sports leagues spoke about the need to upgrade some of the sports facilities so that Scotch Plains is on a par with some other towns that have larger sports complexes that can host events such as tournaments. Matthew Giannacio, Soccer Coach at the High School, who is also a head coach with the softball program, pointed out that other towns’ sports complexes provide them with a “home base” for their teams during tournaments.
Farley Avenue Park would be an ideal spot for a softball complex, he said, with two playing fields already set up for softball, which requires an all-dirt infield vs. grass infields found at other parks in town. He said a third field could possibly be fit into the park, which also has a small building, playground and potential space for a batting cage.
Memorial Field was also a topic of discussion, with Recreation Director Julie Buonaguro telling the Commission that the outfield scoreboard there, along with scoreboards at other playing fields, will be replaced and that the installation of a bullpen and batting cage is also planned. Drainage issues in parts of the playing field, which hosts both baseball and soccer games, is something that will be addressed. Commission Vice-Chair Colleen Gialanella asked the baseball leagues to provide recreation officials with a list of what is needed to expand Memorial Field’s usage so that both younger and older players can use the field, whose infield and pitching mound dimensions can adjusted to accommodate players of different ages.
In other business, the Commission briefly discussed the County-sponsored Four Centuries in a Weekend event next month that will include the historic clubhouse at Shady Rest Golf and Country Club. Commissioner Tom Donatelli said the plans include a live jazz band on both Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19. There will also be a putting contest at the mini-golf course, with those successfully making shots of varying lengths winning vouchers for free mini-golf rounds and, for longer puts, a free round of golf for four along with a cart. The facility was recently added to the Black Heritage Trail and Mr. Donatelli said a market will be unveiled there on October 18 at noon.
The Commission has been talking about making upgrades to the mini-golf facility and Ms. Buonaguro said this week that a local firm will be installing new carpeting throughout the course. The water features there have been plagued with clogged pipes and it’s expected that those problems will also be resolved in the coming months.
Major renovations to the rest room facilities at Township parks are underway, with Facilities Manager Justis Evans saying the one at the south side soccer facility is nearly complete and the one at Greenside Park is currently under way.
A number of community events are on the calendar for October. The first weekend of October will see a host of events, starting with Family Movie Night on Friday, October 3, followed by the Rose Checchio Walk to Wipe Out Breast Cancer on Saturday morning, October 4. That same afternoon, a Freecycle event will be held at Jerseyland Park. Scotch Plains Day will be held in the downtown on Sunday, October 5. On October 16, the Township will celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, and on Saturday, October 25, the Trunk-or-Treat Halloween event will take place.
