Vandalism Forces Closure of Pennington Park Soccer Field, Disrupting Local Leagues

PATERSON, NJ - The soccer field at Pennington Park was closed Saturday after being vandalized, just as local youth leagues were preparing for the new season. A large burn mark was discovered at the midfield line of the recently renovated turf, forcing the school, youth, and adult leagues that use the field to relocate.

Mayor Andre Sayegh confirmed that the Paterson Fire Department responded to the incident early Saturday morning, between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. The field, which underwent an approximate $560,000 renovation in 2023 , is now locked with a chain to prevent further damage.

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

“Pennington Park is a point of pride,” Sayegh told TAPinto Paterson. “We renovated the baseball field , built a fitness zone , and just cut the ribbon on a new playground . We recently installed a new soccer field that some cowardly scofflaws destroyed. There is a thorough investigation underway, and we will prosecute the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.”

Officials are unsure how long it will take to repair the affected portion of the turf. An investigation is ongoing.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net