Opening Day Ceremony Held At JFK High School In Woodbridge

Woodbridge township and school officials held a ceremony Wednesday to dedicate the new “state-of-the-art” synthetic turf playing field at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School.

The JFK Mustangs opened the 2015 varsity baseball season with a “first pitch” pre-game ceremony.

A similar ceremony is planned for Thursday at Colonia High School in the township.

The multi-purpose field provides a state-of-the-art playing surface for sports, including baseball and soccer, according to township officials.

According to a news release:

Mayor John E. McCormac and Superintendent Robert Zega said the new synthetic field at JFK replaced the school’s original grass turf.

The field includes synthetic turf in the infield and outfield, and a clay pitcher’s mound and batter’s box. It also includes a new outfield fence, scoreboard and lighting.

The construction is part of the School District Facilities Improvement Project. Through that initiative, sport and athletic fields, bleachers and stands, playgrounds, auditorium theaters, and other public-use school facilities are being rehabilitated.

The upgrades are financed through tax incentives -- Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) -- that businesses pay to the township when they move into town or expand an existing business. The township bond to finance the projects, which is funded through the PILOT agreements, removes the financial obligation from the school board, allowing district funds to be reserved for “educational amenities.”

“The school facility renovation and upgrade initiative benefits the entire community and serves to dramatically improve property values,’’ according to the news release.

The township budgeted $860,000 for the JFK field.

The field is expected to be used by the varsity and junior varsity baseball team, the boys and girls soccer teams, the cheer team and the marching band.

JFK won the game against Franklin High School, 11 to 6. Here’s the game report, from township officials:

Winning pitcher Mike Matusz, took a no-hitter into the fifth, allowed one earned run in five and a third innings of work. Josh Bucholz collected two hits and four RBI for the Mustangs, and Connor Aston hit a home run.

Photos courtesy Woodbridge Township; Mayor John E. McCormac throws out the first pitch; aerial view of the field at John F. Kennedy High School; the JFK Mustangs prepare to take the field for the opening-day game of the 2015 High School Varsity Baseball season. Mayor John E. McCormac, Dr. Robert Zega, Superintendent of Schools, Brian Molnar, School Board President, JFK Principal Michael Cilento, JKF Athletic Director Sean Daly, Councilman Jim Major and Councilwoman Debbie Meehan, and the JFK baseball team participate in pre-game ceremonies to dedicate the new John Kennedy Memorial High School synthetic turf playing field.