Seniors Voice Opposition to Memorial/Pulis Field Renovation Proposals

Well, it may only be February but fireworks were already in the air at Tuesday night’s Township Committee meeting, as a small but vocal group comprised largely of 30 or so seniors from the Spring Meadows Condominium Association voiced opposition to the proposed $3.5 million in renovations to Memorial Complex & Town Center, Pulis Fields and the Larkin House which would include installing artificial turf at Memorial and Pulis as well as adding lighting at Pulis.

Pulis Field, as the Senior Meadows group made very clear, abuts their condominium complex. They said they were both perplexed and angry at not being included in a renovation discussion they believe will bring increased noise, traffic and unwanted light pollution directly to their doorsteps. 

“What about us?” was the persistent plea from Kathleen Smith, president of the Spring Meadow Condominium Association.

Speaking for many of the 112 residents, Smith said early renderings even showed a proposed snack bar at Pulis would literally back up “on eight of our homes.” 

 “What will happen when the field is lit? What will happen to the traffic on Spring Meadow? What will happen to the access on our private roads? I think we need to be in every aspect of this discussion. Why have we not been included when the residents of Spring Meadows contribute more than $1 million dollars to the tax rolls of Wyckoff every year,” Smith said.   “And we cost you next to nothing. You don’t plow our roads or fix them. All our roads are private. We do everything. We do get our garbage picked up, but we also pay a substantial amount of real estate taxes. So why we have not been included or considered is beyond me?”

Other residents, such as Kevin Outerbridge, questioned if increased usage on the fields would lead to additional games being played, inevitably leading to increased traffic.  Another, Jim Savage, who works in the lighting industry, asked specific questions about the increased glare and light trespass that would come with the proposed lighting fixtures at Pulis.

“These lights are about 1500 watts apiece. That’s pretty powerful,” Savage said.

Saying there was no concerted effort to ignore or exclude the Spring Meadows Association, Park and Recreation Foundation President Chris Vanuga apologized saying his group had already met with or had meetings planned with other potentially impacted groups such as the Wyckoff YMCA, the Library, the Torpedoes Soccer Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Vanuga indicated the foundation would be speaking directly to Smith to address Spring Meadows concerns.

Included among the Park and Rec renovation proposals are:

Memorial Field:  Adding a large synthetic turf with a multi-sport field; a new performing arts gazebo; snack stand and reflecting pool.

Pulis Field: Adding two multi-sport synthetic fields; one grass multi-sport field, lights; a walking/running track, snack stand.

Larkin House: Yet to be specified renovations.

The Parks and Rec foundation, which in addition to Vanuga include vice president David Buchanan, treasurer Tom Stefany and secretary Christine Becker, have said they plan to raise funds for the renovation projects through private donations, corporate sponsorships and possibly imposing usage fees toward the various groups that would use the various fields.

While taking no official stand on the presentation, township committee member Christopher DePhillips voiced support that the group was taking on an issue the township couldn’t afford to do itself.

“It’s  a complex issue that’s going to affect the community in many ways.  It’s going to affect lives and residents at Spring Meadow and many other residents. We’re here because there’s a budget crisis in the state of New Jersey. The Township cannot afford to do this on its own,” DePhillips said. “ We don’t  have the resources to improve the fields in the way that we need to protect our kids.”

Saying he’s witnessed children hurt while playing On Pulis Field, DePhillips categorized the issue as a safety concern that couldn’t be ignored much longer.

“It’s something that needs to be addressed. Regrettably the township doesn’t have the funds to do what we need to do to protect our kids so we have to rely on a non-profit to raise money.  I don’t want anyone from the YMCA to think because we’re considering this that we are somehow for the Rec Foundation and against the Y. We all support the YMCA. I commend the Foundation for taking this issue up. But it’s going to be a long process and you need to work hand in hand with other groups like the Y and Spring Meadow on this issue.”

Among the other issues addressed by the group Tuesday night were questions about the renovated field’s usage. Specifically, whether the artificial turf would allow for the usage of fireworks and in an emergency would the turf support a helicopter landing.  In both instances Vanuga indicated the group’s preliminary research indicated neither would represent an issue.

While the Parks and Rec Foundation had hoped to come away from the meeting with a clear show of support from the Township Committee so they could proceed with an initial kick-off fund raiser at the Brick House on March 24th, Mayor Kevin Rooney told the group further discussion on the proposal was needed. The group is expected to reconvene in April before the committee.