Sparta's Ungerman Field to be Returfed

SPARTA, NJ – The softball field at Ungerman field will have the artificial turf replaced. After more than an hour of discussion and comments from the public, recreation director and councilmembers, resolution 9-8 was approved in a split vote.

Mayor Neill Clark, Councilwoman Christine Quinn and Councilman Josh Hertzberg voted yes.  Deputy Mayor Dean Blumetti and Councilman Dan Chiariello voted no.

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Two main issues drove the lengthy discussion: artificial turf versus natural grass and the vendor’s legal troubles.

All five council members agreed they would prefer to have natural grass in their remarks.  Chiariello and Blumetti argued against the artificial turf, citing potential health, safety and environmental issues along with long-term costs.

Ultimately it came down to the timeline. Sparta’s Recreation Director Jeanne Montemarano and township engineer Cory Stoner said it would take two years for a turf field to become usable for the little league and adult programs. They said in addition to installation, the field would need a year without anyone playing on it before it was used.

Stoner said it would cost more to make it natural grass. Though he had not gotten any cost estimates to convert to grass, he estimated it would be $300,000.

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Montemarano also said the season begins earlier and play and tournaments are not disrupted by weather related conditions, because of the artificial turf surface.  Since Ungerman field has lights, to lose it for two years would have a significant impact she said.

“If you care about it, the kids won’t be as competitive,” Montemarano said.

Softball coach and Alpine Physical Education teacher Jeremy Loverde argued the players would also lose an advantage from the experience of playing on artificial turf.

“It needs to be said, turf is an advantage…When we play other teams with turf fields we have an advantage because we play on it,” he said noting it is also used by baseball and the Challenger League.

Environmental Commission Chair Kim Noel echoed concerns raised by Blumetti and Chiariello. She recommended converting to natural grass “for the health of our children and the water supply.”

“We have become more and more aware of PFAS or the forever chemicals that are starting to be all around us and we even have some that have been identified in higher levels in our wells,” Noel said.  “Turf fields or plastic fields are actually one of the way that PFAS are getting into the environment.”

She said, while manufacturers say their products do not have PFAS they are marketing a PFAS free product. She said in addition to removing the PFASs from the water that is already there, not adding more is “also a good idea.”

Noel also spoke about the long term costs. “They do require maintenance and special equipment to maintain.  And they only really last 10 years…It’s not just the immediate cost of maintaining that field.”

The resolution was amended to allow Montemarano, Stoner and Township Manager Jim Zepp to investigate the possibility of using a different vendor and have Clark approve the contract.

The resolution calls for approximately $200,000 to replace the turf with funds already earmarked in the budget.  The purchase in the resolution was for FieldTurf USA through the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey, a purchasing cooperative that negates the need for competitive bidding.

Clark was concerned by two class action lawsuits involving FieldTurf and asked to have the other vendor noted by Stoner, Shaw to be investigated.

Montemarano said they “needed to do it by November” and FieldTurf said it would take six weeks to remove the existing surface and install new artificial turf.

Prior to casting his vote Clark said, “This is a very difficult decision.  I am very mindful of the safety concerns that have been made. But I’m also mindful of who is making those claims and who wants to use these fields. The people who use these fields seem to have consented to the risk.”

“My concern is we would be saying ‘We know better. We don’t think you understand the risk,’” Clark said…" It would be a significant disruption to our rec [programs.] Everything in life comes with a balance and risk.”

He said they are not looking to put artificial turf on every field but only the field that currently has turf.  “The people have spoken.  They want turf.”

Blumetti said, “I’m a bit appalled thinking the public and our kids are consenting to this. I think we all know in our hearts and brains people aren’t consenting to this when they use a turf field. It’s impossible. I don’t think they understand the risk or future risk. I think it’s our responsibility and duty to protect them.”

He said they do that with bridges and drinking water and the “public are not experts.”

He acknowledged it would be disruptive with impact to physical and mental health and to the community.

“This information with the help of social media and everything else  is out there. People feel a certain way about it.  If parents have concerns they should withhold their children  playing on those surfaces and have them play in the games playing on the grass,” Quinn said.

Clark turned to the issues with the vendor “make me uncomfortable” asking the township manager to look into the other vendor. The project is targeted to begin in the fall.

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