Important Vote on Cross Farm Park Turf Fields Thursday Night

HOLMDEL, NJ - The turf field debate at Cross Farm Park. A $3.3 million proposal to install turf at the park has gone back and forth so many times in Holmdel Township, it's enough to make your head spin like a soccer ball. But on Thursday night the Township Council will hold an important vote on the matter, and there will be a public hearing beforehand.

As it stands currently, the question of whether or not to install the turf fields will be put to the entire Township to vote in a referendum on Nov. 7. However, if three out of the five Township Committee members vote "yes" at a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 16 to cancel a bond ordinance to pay for the fields, there will be no referendum vote in November. Turf fields at Cross Farms will be off the table, at least for now.

The public is invited to come speak Thursday night and give their say on whether the turf should be installed or not. "There will be a public portion of the meeting to discuss the bond ordinance," said Township Administrator Donna Vieiro. "As with any bond ordinance, there is always public comment before the vote."

"All we're asking for is the chance to vote on these turf fields on Nov. 7," said Maria Gordon, a Holmdel resident, and a mom of three boys, who said she will be there. "Most people in Holmdel support these fields. There is a small minority that doesn't want the fields."

However, others in Holmdel oppose the turf proposal, saying it's too expensive, an improper use of open space funds and would degrade Cross Farms and the environment.

Members of the public will be allowed to speak for three minutes each Thursday and give their opinion. The five-person Township Committee then votes. Executive (private) session of the meeting starts at 7 p.m.; the public portion starts at 7:30 at the Township building (4 Crawfords Corner Road.) The agenda is here.