Page 4 • Wednesday , November 23 , 2022 • The Hammonton Gazette
Unsanctioned games damaging Boyer Avenue fields
PARKS , from Page 1 remainder of the school year .
“ The feedback that we are getting from the South Jersey Soccer League is that our fields are one of the worst ones in South Jersey ,” Illiano said .
Illiano asked the commission for their help .
“ We don ’ t want anyone else to get injured , and I don ’ t want to be known as having the worst fields in South Jersey ,” Illiano said .
Illiano again expressed appreciation for the work on the fields , but said that “ something needs to be done .”
“ There are sprinkler heads out there that are popping up — and what ’ s making it worse is that there are people playing out there at all times ,” Illiano said .
Illiano said that there is also damage to the front fields — Fields 1 and 2 — where rec and travel soccer play .
“ There ’ s people playing golf on there and playing soccer . I ’ ve gone a few times and asked people to get off , and people just go back ,” Illiano said .
Councilman Steven Furgione said that he spoke with Mayor Stephen DiDonato and Councilman Sam Rodio regarding the conditions of the front fields .
“ As soon as the season is done , we ’ ll get out there . We ’ ve got topsoil to fix the areas and seed everything , and then we can fertilize . By springtime , we ’ ll have grass . But , in order to make any of this work , we ’ ve got to divert all traffic off the front fields and shut the back two down so we can work ,” Furgione said .
Illiano said that he has witnessed what he described as “ fullon , Spanish tournament leagues going on .”
“ There ’ s DJs , food vendors , full teams , everything happening out there with no one really knowing how or what . They ’ re out there just playing and leaving a mess on our back fields ,” Illiano said .
Illiano said that the unsanctioned games are “ where the fields are getting used and beat up .”
“ That ’ s what ’ s killing them . On Saturdays and Sundays , you can go there and there ’ s full tournaments going on . I know we just added a camera out there , but I don ’ t think people are scared of that ,” Illiano said .
Furgione said that he has witnessed the unsanctioned soccer games .
“ It ’ s just as he described it . They ’ re wearing uniforms . They have a referee . There ’ s a ton of people out there . There ’ s a lot going on ,” Furgione said .
Illiano said that there is a procedure for using the fields .
“ The people that don ’ t have any games organized with me or Denise [ Mazzeo , Hammonton Recreation Leader ] shouldn ’ t be back there at all . There ’ s a league out there that ’ s using our fields — refs , uniforms , busses — and playing legit games , and I have no idea who it is . I caught a guy making a soccer field on top of the field hockey field one time , and I kicked him off ,” Illiano said .
Illiano said that he informed the individual that if he wanted to use a field , he must submit a use-offacilities request .
“ You can ’ t just go and play . I ’ m giving you the OK to play on Field 8 , but you still have to go and let the town know ,” Illiano said .
Commission chair Lou Cappuccio said that such unsanctioned activity was discussed at the commission ’ s October meeting .
“ We talked about placing more
signage ... not only are they not going through Denise for insurance reasons , but how do they think they can come on somebody ’ s property ?” Cappuccio said .
Commissioner James Borda commented further .
“ We have to shut down any unauthorized games or activity . Anything unsanctioned has got to stop , because you ’ re never going to get these fields right . Number two , there ’ s no ramifications — from what I ’ m hearing — if the police go down there and say they have to leave . Write them a ticket . Give them a summons ,” Borda said .
Borda said that there needs to be repercussions for the unsanctioned activity .
“ Show up in court . Hit them with a fine . Until something like that happens , who cares if the police come down there and say they have to leave ?” Borda said .
Rodio said that he would discuss the situation with Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel at the next meeting of the Law and Order Committee .
“ Next month , if we need to do this again , the chief will be here ,” Rodio said .
Rodio said that someone “ with authority ” should accompany the police — should they be needed to shut down the unauthorized games — to provide proper procedural information .
“ That way , they can say , this is what you can do , this is what you can ’ t do . If you come back again , you ’ ll be summonsed ,” Rodio said .
Rodio said that part of the fault lies with the Parks and Recreation Commission .
“ We haven ’ t been down there to police it , so they just think they can do whatever they like . We need to put that back under control ,” Rodio said . Borda concurred . “ The town has invested hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of dollars , and decades of time into those facilities ... These fields are a great asset , and they need to be protected ,” Borda said .
Cappuccio reiterated the need for signage .
“ If I pulled in from out of town , and I didn ’ t see any signs saying I couldn ’ t , I ’ d say , OK , this is where I play ,” Cappuccio said .
Cappuccio also noted that any organized activity must present proof of insurance along with their use-of-facilities request .
“ They need to go through the right procedures . How do we get through to them ?” Cappuccio said .
Commissioner Mica McCullough responded .
“ Regarding signage , it should be in English and Spanish , and it ’ s important to have the process on the sign . You can ’ t tell them they need a use-of-facilities if they don ’ t know what it is . Have the website , or a phone number , or the form ; something to allow them the opportunity to do this in the correct way . Then , if they don ’ t , then you can fine them , but you have to give people the opportunity to do it the right way ,” McCullough said .
Commissioner Shawn McCloud suggested adding a QR code to the signage .
“ Everyone uses their phones . If you can scan it and just go to a site that is in English and Spanish , it might be helpful ... There ’ s only so much you can fit on a sign , but if you have the information — rules , fines ; make it apparent that there are consequences for doing the wrong thing — it would be helpful ,” McCloud said .
Mazzeo said that a QR code was a good idea .
“ I can link it to our website , which is translatable into several languages . Then , we have links to all of our recreation organizations , along with the use-of-facilities forms and proper procedures ,” Mazzeo said .
Mazzeo said that a few people having a pick-up game on a given town facility was not the issue in question .
“ When you ’ re having a full-on league game , that ’ s a lot of insurance liability . That needs to put through a regular use-of-facility ; you ’ re utilizing our field as a venue for your league . That ’ s a completely different story ,” Mazzeo said .
Illiano also said that there are often dogs running around the fields . He added that , during HYSA ’ s opening weekend , he was attacked by a dog near Field 11 .
“ We were setting up the fields — it was opening weekend — we went out there to line the field . I walked onto the field , and a pit bull and German shepherd went after me . I ran off the field to the pickup truck , and we told the guys there they had to go . That was a Friday . That Tuesday , that same man went back and I called the cops ,” Illiano said .
Furgione suggested revisiting the way that the Hammonton Dog Park operates , and Mazzeo commented further . Mazzeo said that it was her understanding that the ordinance for the park was written to ensure that all dogs in the park are registered and vaccinated for rabies .
“ People want to skirt the system from having to do that ; they want to be able to just go into the park ,
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