New Athletic Field, Upgrades Coming To Ivy Hill Park In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Officials announced a big win for local athletes in the Ivy Hill Park area of Newark on Thursday, outlining plans to construct a football/soccer field and modernize a baseball field and two basketball courts at the county-run park.

Here’s what to expect, according to a news release from the office of Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr.:

“The football and soccer field with a synthetic grass playing surface will be a new addition to the park. It also will have LED sports lighting for evening games and practices. The baseball field will be updated with a new synthetic grass surface and existing sports lighting will be replaced with LED lighting that are brighter and more efficient. Two existing basketball courts will be resurfaced. New walkways will be constructed from the existing walking paths to the fields, pathways will be repaired, new trees will be planted and landscaping throughout the park will be enhanced.”

County officials added:

“French and Parrello from Wall was awarded a professional services contract for $264,000 to design the field improvements. Athletic Fields of America from Montville was awarded a publicly bid contract for $3,361,834 to perform the construction work. (Both contracts awarded to French and Parrello and Athletic Fields of America also include improvements to three baseball fields in Essex County Branch Brook Park in Newark.) The Essex County Department of Public Works will monitor the project to ensure delays are avoided. Funding is being provided through the American Recovery Program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.”

The work is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2023, officials said.

The news is especially welcome to young students in the area, according to Mount Vernon Elementary School Principal Camille Findley-Browne.

“Our children love this park and are excited about what is happening here,” Findley-Browne said.

Houston Stevens, founder of the Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association, also had praise for the upcoming upgrades.

“We are very appreciative of the collaboration we have had with the county,” Stevens said.

The group’s president, Doug Bell, also cheered Thursday’s announcement.

“This is an exciting time for the Ivy Hill community,” Bell said. “The improvements underway in the park will help us create a vibrant life in our neighborhood.”

The county executive said the synthetic surface on both fields will reduce the amount of required maintenance, “maximize” the usability of the fields, and provide the community with up-to-date facilities.

“We are pleased to partner with the Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association on this project and get their input on what improvements to the recreation facilities were needed,” DiVincenzo said.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.