Holmdel Sued In Battle Over Turf Fields at Cross Farm Park

Holmdel, NJ - The battle over the controversial turf soccer fields at Cross Farm Park is heating up: A group of Holmdel residents, calling themselves Preserve Holmdel, announced Monday they are now suing the Township in their quest to prevent turf fields from being installed at Cross Farm Park.

Maureen Doloughty, Holmdel Township Clerk, said Monday this was the first she's heard of a lawsuit. She also said the residents were "wasting their money," as the Township was still in the middle of reviewing a petition signed by Holmdel residents against the fields.

The suit was filed Tuesday, Sept. 27 in New Jersey Superior Court by Preserve Holmdel’s attorney, Robert Gasiorowski. The suit seeks to force Holmdel to hold a public vote on a $3.3 million bond the Township Committee approved last month. That bond, approved unanimously by the TC Sept. 6, would pay for the installation of two new synthetic turf fields at Cross Farm Park. Fees paid by private sports clubs and tax dollars from Holmdel's open space fund would offset the costs of the bond, Holmdel Mayor Eric Hinds has said.

Many in the Township would like to see new turf fields at Cross Farm: They say it will improve the park and make it a nice spot for children to play soccer and other rec sports. The turf fields were specifically requested by Holmdel's recreational sports teams. In addition to turf fields, the bond would also pay for rows of bleachers, fencing, parking, and possibly 70-foot tall flood lights. The parking lot at the park will also be resurfaced with the money.

Right now, the only turf field in Holmdel is at the high school.

But perhaps an equal number of residents detest the field idea: They say the costs are too high; that the Township should not use tax dollars meant to preserve open space to pay for turf, bleachers and lighting, and that the money could simply be better spent elsewhere. They also say the turf fields will lead to environmental damage and poor drainage issues.

“Studies have shown that synthetic turf fields have a long history of polluting water. Our Swimming River Reservoir, where many Monmouth County residents get their water, has tributaries next to where these turf fields would be located. Why risk the future of our children’s lives when we are uncertain about the effects of these fields?” asked resident Sheila Gilstein.

After Holmdel approved the $3.3 million bond, the residents presented a petition signed by over 700 Holmdel residents requesting the turf fields be put to a public vote.

However, about 170 of the names on that petition were not valid, Doloughty told Patch. You must be a registered voter in Holmdel to be counted, and those 170 were not registered here to vote, she said. However, the group still had more than the required number of signatures to proceed (450). The petition was resubmitted and Holmdel Township is currently reviewing it.

"The petition was rejected," said Doloughty. "It was resubmitted and as of today, we have not responded one way or the other. I am unaware of any lawsuit that's been filed, and have not received anything. I'm at a loss as to why they would do this."

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