Veterans Park in Berkeley Township will be getting a 100-yard boost to its grounds this year.

Shovels will go into the ground in the next month or two to build an all-purpose turf field at veterans park that'll host football, soccer and lacrosse games among other events.

"We expect the turf field to be used essentially every waking minute of the day so to speak," Mayor Carmen Amato said. "It's a great addition to our park system."

There will only be games on the schedule for the time being but Amato hopes it'll one day be expanded to provide field usage for other purposes.

"Our initial thoughts are that the field be used for games only, then eventually be used for practices as well depending on the scheduling of the leagues," Amato said.

Amato says leagues can play games there as well as Central Regional Schools but it's first come, first served.

"They'll be a permitting process through our recreational department," Amato said. "All of our leagues will have first access at using the turf field."

In addition to Central being able to use the field, they may have to do a little maintenance.

"Central Regional already has a turf field so we plan on signing a shared services agreement with them," Amato said. "They will be able to utilize the field and in return they use their machine to service it every once in a while."

He expects the turf to be laid in and the field constructed by this coming fall at Sam Pepe Memorial Stadium which does include lighting.

Amato says they've received approval from the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program for $750,000 for the installation following the summer 2017 preliminary approval, pending Legislative approval.

The turf field collectively will cost approximately $800,000.00 plus soft costs.

The field will be purchased direct from FieldTurf thru the Keystone Purchasing Network.

Proposed Turf Field at Veterans Park in Berkeley Township. (Carmen Amato, Berkeley Township Mayor)
Proposed Turf Field at Veterans Park in Berkeley Township. (Carmen Amato, Berkeley Township Mayor)
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