Ironbound on verge of scoring a revamped field for athletics

by Carmen Juri/The Star-Ledger

Standing on the Ironbound Athletic Field, Newark chief architect Robert Dooley said the discovery of lead at the site last fall was a blessing in disguise.

The detection led to a $2.2 million renovation at the St. Charles Avenue field that includes a new synthetic turf with a drainage system that can be used even on rainy days. That's just one perk.
The new field has an additional soccer field, a baseball field, play ground, a new basketball court, batting cages, restrooms, concessions stands and benches. Now, Little League players can also use the field, which has the requisite 90-foot base paths for the 13 and older set.

''The Ironbound will be doing pretty well," Dooley said.

The field officially reopens Saturday though construction is still ongoing on some areas, including the playground and concession stands. Local sports clubs will parade from Peter Francisco Park outside Penn Station down Ferry Street to the field, for the daylong reopening ceremonies that begin at 11 a.m.

The Ironbound Athletic Field, known as the B field, was shut by Newark officials in October after testing by the Environmental Protection Agency revealed lead in the field's dust. City officials later learned the lead came from the green synthetic turf that was in stalled 10 years ago.

The EPA was conducting a field investigation on the adjacent contaminated Tidewater Bailing property when lead in the field's dust and synthetic fibers were discovered. The field was later carefully removed, which included fencing in the area and keeping the dust down during the removal.

Dooley said the city has been meticulous in ensuring the safety of the new AstroTurf field by hiring two firms to test the field: Weston Solutions; and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute. The turf's lead content is 100 times lower than the standard acceptable amount, he said. The standard is 40 micrograms per square feet and the field's numbers are .01 to .5 micrograms, he said.

Workers took samples from the field during a four-week period after its June installation, Dooley said.

''It took us longer to do it, but we're very accountable the way we approached it," he said. "It's lower than a child's toy is allowed to be."

Dooley said the city has tried to brand all parks with the same style of fencing, gates, benches, trash receptacles, lighting and brick pillars, with only the colors altered to match the immediate neighborhood.

''There are common elements in all," said Dooley. "

Mayor Cory Booker said the field is a state-of-the-art recreational facility.

''This reopening is another step forward in our continuing efforts and historic plan to rebuild and transform the parks and recreation facilities in all of our neighborhoods throughout the city," Booker said.

In the Ironbound, where a large Brazilian and Portuguese population has made soccer the choice sport, the new field is a godsend. The Ironbound Soccer Club has 1,000 members, and some 300 kids play for the Den of Lions. Most teams double or triple up because of lack of practice space.
Joe Manso, coach for the Sport Club Portuguese soccer league said he is excited that there will be a site close to home for his adult division to practice. His teams have had to practice at out of the way locations like West Side Park.

''Ironbound (field) is walking distance from our club," Manso said. "Before, the field was very beat up, it's harder on the knees. They're putting in benches and bathrooms. I didn't have that for the last 15 years."

Unlike the case at county parks, where teams must pay about $1,600 a season for permits, city parks are free, he said.

''Now we'll have accessibility of scoreboards, bathrooms," said Mike Alban, president of the Ironbound Little League.

East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador said the anticipation in his neighborhood is palpable.

''When I met with all the clubs, you could sense the excitement in the room from all the directors," he said. "The community has a shortage of open space and areas of recreation. This will fill, to a certain ex tent, the needs of that community.

''We still need more facilities, but this helps a lot," he said.