Politics & Government

Teaneck Council OKs $4.2M to Upgrade 'Despicable' Fields

New artificial turf, drainage improvements planned at Votee Park.

The Teaneck Township Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a $4.2 million bond authorization to cover the costs of upgrades at two Votee Park soccer fields, including installing new artificial turf and improved drainage for the flood-plagued area. 

Some residents have questioned why the figure increased from early estimates, and worried the project would divert all of the town's Municipal Open Space Trust Fund money solely to the park, over other uses. 

Resident Howard Rose said he wanted more details on the project's cost. 

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"I don't want this to be excessive," he said. 

A $2.5 million estimate came in 2007, according to Deputy Mayor Adam Gussen. That figure did not include remediation work that could be needed to deal with contaminated soil discovered in the park in 2011, a slew of proposed "wish list" items and necessary lighting at the fields. 

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Council members agreed the field upgrades were needed. 

"The fields in Votee are despicable," Gussen said. "It's amazing that traveling teams send their kids to play on these fields." 

Councilman Henry Pruitt said the town needed to improve the fields, but thought the work could be done without spending the full $4 million. 

Officials have said the project would cost less than the $4.2 million set aside in the bond ordinance. 

According to the ordinance, the township plans to use $2.175 million from the Open Space Trust Fund. The state's Green Acres Program will provide $621,250, another $128,750 will come from a Green Acres loan and $184,708 from a county open space fund. 

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