Upper Saddle River dedicates its Lake Street sports complex to its residents

UPPER SADDLE RIVER — A year after the borough opened its 9-acre $8.6 million Lake Street sports complex, local officials returned this week for dedication ceremonies.

"We wanted to memorialize all of the hard work and effort that went into realizing the sports complex and officially naming it and dedicating it to the residents," Mayor Arman Fardanesh said Tuesday. "After seeing how much use the complex gets on a daily basis, we recognized the value that it brings to residents and our community."

Fardanesh said some additional project details "will be coming later next year," which will include grandstands and scoreboards.

A black plaque with gold-raised lettering reads: "Upper Saddle River Sports Complex Dedicated to the Residents of Upper Saddle River 2023." The plaque also lists names of council members and complex committee members.

The complex is on part of the former 48-acre Pearson Education Campus at Lake Street and East Crescent Avenue intersection. Ground was broken in December 2021 on the field site. The remaining 39 acres are being developed and will have a 208-unit townhouse complex, of which 22 will be affordable units.

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The property was bought for $2 million, offset by a $1.6 million grant from the Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection & Historic Preservation Trust Fund. It includes two multipurpose fields with ballfield overlays, pickleball courts, a snack stand, a field house, a press box, a walking path and off-street parking. The fields have lights for evening games.

Among those present for the ceremony were Council President Jon Ditkoff, Council members Sarah Drennan, Richard Lyons and Joanne Florio; committee members Steven DiMartino, Vincent Durante, Dana Fox and Rob Digisi.

Ditkoff said the borough expects "there will possibly be more grants towards the scoreboards, bleachers and press box," and that open space funding will be used to pay down principal and interest on the debt. He said grants are also expected to finance the installation of charging stations in the parking lot.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Upper Saddle River dedicates its Lake Street sports complex to its residents