Want To Use A City Field In Newark? ‘Emergency Plans’ Now Required

NEWARK, NJ — It’s always good to be prepared for an emergency. That’s the theory behind a new local ordinance in Newark that will require sports organizations that use municipal athletic fields to submit an “emergency action plan” to the city – or face a potential fine.

The Newark City Council passed the ordinance on second reading during their Sept. 20 meeting. It was sponsored by Patrick Council and Dupré Kelly. Read the full text here.

Here’s what it does, according to a statement from Council:

“The ordinance requires youth and adult sports organizations that plan to utilize any fields in the City of Newark to submit an emergency action Plan. The plan requires the sports organizations to have designated individuals responsible for certain things in case of an emergency. This includes the person(s) responsible for contacting the police, locating the AED, and responsible for locating the first aid kit. All coaches, staff, and volunteers must be CPR/AED certified. This must be submitted to the Department of Recreation along with the permit application. Failure to do so will result in a fine for the sports organization.”

“It is the responsibility of every youth and young adult sports organization, as well as residents who are looking to permit any park space in the city, to have a plan that provides safety and security for all participants,” Council 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.