Council hears that state denied turf grant; staff outlines alternate grant and repair plans

Residents asked for an update on planned turf and bleacher work at local athletic fields and were told the state/DPD denied additional turf grants for the area. Staff said the state has stopped funding additional turf installations and the municipality will pursue other grant matches and lower-cost options, including a USA Football grant that could reduce costs but not cover the full project.

“We did get a letter saying that we were denied,” staff (speaker 5) said of the turf grant. Staff added that the municipality has funds and existing grants to restore fields and bleachers and that alternative turf products that limit subsurface damage are being considered. Council and staff emphasized they are pursuing other grants and that contractors will set completion dates once schedules are finalized.

For the Pleasant Middle School SRTS project, staff read an amendment (Resolution 143) to a New Jersey Department of Transportation grant to include final design activities and additional funding for the school transportation project; council moved the resolution forward.