Turf field construction on schedule
By ROBERT LINNEHAN
Cherry Hill Sun
12/20/2007

Township eyeing March 1 unveiling of three new state-of-the-art fields at area sports complexes

In a few months, young athletes of the township will be lacing up their cleats for a chance to play on several upgraded recreational fields that will be open all year round. The township is eyeing a March. 1 date to unveil the new next-generation turf being installed on three playing fields at two sport complexes in Cherry Hill.

Two fields at the Garden State Rotary Complex and the upper field at the Chapel Avenue complex are having FieldTurf – an artificial turf product used as the playing surface for many professional sports teams in the country – installed to replace the poor grass playing surface young athletes of the township have had to play on for many previous years.

The total cost of the project is $4.5 million for the township, which was bonded through the Camden County Improvement Authority. The township will pay the debt over a 30-year period at an interest rate of about a half percent, according to Jennifer Kelley, aide to Mayor Bernie Platt.

In addition to the playing surfaces, the Garden State Rotary Complex will receive additional lighting in the parking lot area near Cropwell Road, a new asphalt corridor for emergency and pedestrian access and a new spectator area.

The Chapel Avenue complex will have its existing walkway enhanced and extended. 50 trees will also be planted along the walkway and the parking lot will be lighted.

Both complexes will have their drainage systems improved as well. The old surfaces of the three fields would develop large pockets of water after rain or inclement weather, which led to the postponement or cancellation of many games.

The centerpiece of the $4.5 million project is the new playing surfaces for the three fields. The old grass fields suffered under the constant strain of increased youth sports participation and proved to drain poorly after bad weather. With the installation of the state-of-the-art synthetic turf, youth athletes will have a professional grade field to play soccer or lacrosse on all year round, according to Steve Musilli, director of public works in the township.

“Our children should never have to leave the township to play games because our fields are not in a playable condition. This is unacceptable, and I am committed to changing the face of Cherry Hill’s youth athletic complexes,” Platt said in a previous written statement. “It is time to invest in our children’s well-being by giving them the proper facilities needed to have them grow into well rounded, healthy adults.”

FieldTurf provides the beneficial biomechanical properties of natural grass, combined with the best attributes of a durable synthetic system. Unlike the old artificial turf playing fields like that of Veteran’s Stadium, FieldTurf doesn’t rely on an underlying shock pad for safety, resilience and player comfort, according to the company’s Web site.

Rather, like natural grass, FieldTurf’s grass fibers are surrounded and stabilized by a special blend of “synthetic earth;” a mixture of smooth, rounded silica sand and rubber granules.

FieldTurf currently serves as the playing surface for 24 National Football League teams, numerous English Premier soccer teams and several Division 1-A NCAA football teams.

Musilli said the installation of the turf on the three fields is on schedule for a March 1 open date despite poor weather.

Three stone layers needed to give the FieldTurf its proper playing consistency have already been installed on the two fields at the Garden State Rotary Complex, Musilli said, and the turf is ready to be laid down. Installing the turf takes about two-weeks.

The field at the Chapel Avenue complex is on schedule and will be receiving the first of its three stone layers within the next week.

The professional grade fields will service upward of 5,000 athletes a year, mostly soccer and lacrosse players, according to Musilli.