Demolition of a former industrial building has been completed at the west end of the Wesmont Station neighborhood and construction is underway on a major addition to the Borough ’ s recreation facilities . The Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex will span 12 acres and include a soccer field , a softball / little league field , a baseball field , a playground , a dog run , a concession stand , and walking paths . The soccer field is scheduled to open in October 2020 and the two ball fields and concession stand are scheduled to open in April 2021 . All three fields will feature synthetic turf , bleachers , and field lighting . A recreation center with two gymnasiums is also planned for the complex , but the construction schedule has not yet been established .
“ We are very excited to be on the verge of opening the first field in the new Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex ,” said Mayor Paul Sarlo , who has nicknamed the complex “ The WRAC ”, pronounced as “ Rack ”. Mayor Sarlo stated that “ this is a major milestone for our community that will literally double our inventory of recreation fields and open space . Our high school and recreation soccer programs will finally have a home of their own and our high school baseball and softball programs will no longer experience the scheduling conflicts that come from sharing Donna Ricker Memorial Field . Additionally , the complex will feature amenities for the public to use and enjoy such as the walking paths and the playground and dog run .”
Wood-Ridge Rolls Out All-New Donna rICKER Memorial Field
( CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT ) Artists ’ renderings and construction photos of facilities at the all-new Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex , including photos of the new soccer field being rolled out at the WRAC .
New
Marshall Lane Playground
Under Construction
The Marshall Lane Playground , which will feature jungle gyms and swings for children ages 3 to 12 , is under construction and scheduled for completion by the end of October 2020 . It is located in the Wesmont Station neighborhood at the intersection of Marshall Lane and Roosevelt Drive . The Marshall-Roosevelt intersection is at the west end of Innes Road , which will remain closed to vehicles , but will be accessible by foot or bicycle to residents living in the “ Sunshine City ” neighborhood located off 10th Street in the northwest end of town .
The Borough has completed renovations of the facilities at Donna Ricker Memorial Field at Wood-Ridge High School . The upgrades include new turf on the field , new rubber surface on the track and new bleachers that meet modern safety and ADA requirements . Additionally , the High School ’ s weight room was renovated and re-outfitted with new cardio machines , dumbbells , free weights , and other equipment funded by a private fundraising drive .
“ The synthetic turf on the field and the rubber surface on the track , which were both 13 years old , were badly worn and beyond their useful life of 10 years ,” stated Councilman Ezio Altamura , who serves as the Council ’ s Liaison to the Recreation Commission .
Council President Philip Romero , who chairs the Council ’ s Public Works Committee , explained that “ the field ’ s use is considered ‘ High Intensity ’ because it is used year-round by 5 different sports – football , soccer , baseball , softball and track & field – for both our High School teams and our Recreation teams . The fact that we were able to get 13 years out of the field is a testament to the maintenance and grooming that we perform on a regular basis .”
“ The track is used every day by hundreds of our residents for jogging , walking and exercise , in addition to being used by both our High School and our Recreation Track & Field teams ,” noted Councilwoman Catherine Cassidy . “ We are happy to see so many residents using the new track as part of their exercise regiment .”
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