Perth Amboy Breaks Ground on Veterans Memorial Youth League Complex

PERTH AMBOY – One day – very soon – city youth will have state-of-the-art playing fields on Dorothy Avenue, as part of an eagerly-awaited project that brought city, state and federal officials together to break ground.

More than 100 attendees – such as Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-6 ^th Dist.), Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19 ^th Dist.), state Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette and Mayor Helmin J. Caba – were recently on hand to mark the construction of the new Veterans Memorial Youth League Complex, at 500 Dorothy Ave. Officials noted the last major facility upgrades took place in the 1980s, underscoring the important of this project for the entire city.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

“This is a tremendous initiative for Perth Amboy, as we are leveraging funding from Middlesex County, the state and even the federal government to make this a reality for our young athletes,” Caba said. “This is a comprehensive refurbishment and expansion of this youth complex, benefiting this generation of Perth Amboy children and many more who will come to enjoy these fields for many years to come.”

The $11 million project includes the installation of synthetic turf for a baseball field, soccer field, and multipurpose recreational areas. The plan also includes significant upgrades to the Albert P. Muska Building, adding a second floor and even an observation deck.

The mayor noted the project includes many other amenities, such as a pavilion picnic area, synthetic turf batting cages and bullpens. There will also be ADA-accessible concrete walkways and enhanced landscaping with new trees, shrubs, and groundcovers. In addition, the project features a grand entrance, flagpole plaza, additional visitor parking and updated fencing.

Tashilee Vazquez, executive director of the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency, said city officials were able to gather $9 million in government grants through multiple sources. That included $1.5 million from the federal government, more than $6 million from the state and another $1.5 million from Middlesex County.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

“This groundbreaking is great news for Perth Amboy and everyone who uses the Veterans Memorial Park,”  Pallone said. “I’m glad I was able to secure $1.5 million for the city to invest in recreation and sports fields for young people. With this funding, the community will have access to state-of-the-art fields that will greatly enhance the park’s value for students and residents.”

In developing the project and securing the grants, Mayor Caba said the city conducted extensive public outreach to gauge community needs. Through more than 200 survey responses, as well as valuable input from the Perth Amboy Board of Education, local sports leagues and other community groups, the project was designed to directly reflect the needs of area residents.

“This project addresses critical needs identified in the city’s master plan, including improved recreational facilities,”  Caba said. “It is also happening at the ideal time, as increased use is expected when the new high school opens later this year a short proximity away. We are truly pleased to work with our county, state and federal partners on a project that truly enhances the local quality of life and builds better infrastructure for our children’s recreational needs.”

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net