Artificial turf field at Cedar Brook Park is finally nearing completion

Rolls of artificial turf were seen in the Park Drive
parking lot on Saturday.

The field has been marked -- evidently in preparation
for laying the artificial turf.

Nearly three years after work began on the County's proposed artificial turf field at Cedar Brook Park, it appears that work on the field is finally close to completion.

Readers will recall that there was quite a kerfuffle over the County's proposal when it was presented in late 2015 (see my posts here and here).

For openers, County officials were simply unprepared for the questioning by residents and Historic Preservation Commission members, both of whom took seriously the Park's historic status and had questions about several issues -- including night lighting and removal of trees.

By the time the County came to the Planning Board later, they had upped their game. Nevertheless, the Planning Board's then-attorney Michele Donato sternly advised the County that because the Park is on several historic registries, a "certificate of appropriateness" would be necessary to proceed.

In August of 2016, the Plainfield City Council -- after putting the resolution of support on as a walk-on item and much discussion (including a recess to rework the resolution) -- approved a resolution of support of the project (see my post here), which was needed by the County for its bond preparations.

Soccer players, coaches and supporters lined the
walls as the County presented to the HPC in 2015.

Work actually began later in 2016, though no one has ever heard whether the County ever received the required "certificate of appropriateness".

After weather cleared up in Spring 2017, work appeared to proceed. And then it stopped, without any public explanation.

Finally, it was said that the original engineering drawings had not taken into account the  Park is in a flood plain (duh!) and further work needed to be done.

I pass by three times a week and have not noticed any work until this weekend, when I saw that the field had been marked (for positioning of the turf?) and that rolls of turf were stacked in the Park Drive parking lot, most of which was closed off from public use.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The final steps of installation are quite straightforward and should not take long:

Assuming the base of crushed granite or other suitable substrate is in place, the first step would be to install a fabric weed barrier (if one is going to be used).

Then the rolls of turf will be unrolled and left to relax in the sun before being laid down and fixed in place with nails.

After that, green silicon sand is usually applied. This serves both to make the "grass" stand up, making it look more grasslike, and to give the "feel" similar to an actual grass field.

After that, it should be good to go. The lighting has long been in place.

My guess is the soccer teams which were so interested in the project when it was proposed will breath a sigh of relief that finally -- after missing two seasons of play in Cedar Brook Park -- they will be able once again to play.

---

  -- Dan Damon [follow]

View today's CLIPS W here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

---

About Cookies: This blog is operated by Google, which uses cookies to improve the user's experience. By continuing to read this blog you agree to their use.

---