Soccer Field, Track At Riverbank Park In Newark Get A Facelift

NEWARK, NJ — Some new track and field improvements recently crossed the finish line at Riverbank Park in Newark.

According to Essex County officials, a new synthetic grass playing surface was recently installed on the soccer field, and a new rubberized surfaces was installed on the running track at the county-run park.

Field Turf was awarded a publicly bid contract for $964,167 to perform the construction work. Funding was provided with a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund, officials said.

The project started in May and was completed in three months.

“Soccer is a very popular sport, especially in the Ironbound,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

DiVincenzo noted that this is the third time the soccer field has been resurfaced and the second time the track has been resurfaced.

Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, who represents Newark in the 29th District, said she spends a lot of time at soccer fields because her daughters play the sport.

“When we play games here it makes me proud to hear parents from the opposing team talk about how great our facilities are,” the assemblywoman said.

Newark East Ward Councilman Mike Silva said the soccer field at Riverbank Park is a big deal for the local Ironbound community. It’s a point that Nancy Zak of the Ironbound Community Corporation and John Soares of the Ironbound Soccer Club agree with.

“The expansion of the Ironbound Soccer Club has a lot do with the county updating its fields,” Soares said. “We could not have achieved all we did and brought Ironbound Soccer to the international stage without the support we’ve received from the county providing this great field.”

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