A corporate gift that would help fix a ball field on West First Street has reopened old wounds with neighbors, who confronted the City Council at its public meeting on Nov. 10, demanding changes that would alleviate some of the problems there.
Elaine Magenheimer, a long-time resident of West First Street, deposited a shopping bag full of baseballs she said was only a portion of the baseballs she’s collected over the years, many of which have broken windows in her home and car and caused other damage.
Balls flying over the fence doing damage to residences along First Street
Magenheimer and other residents approached the City Council as it was ready to vote to accept a gift from International Matex Tank Terminals, a Constable Hook petrochemical firm, that offered to partner with the Bayonne Little League to repair the Pony League field on West First Street.
City officials said Richard Fisette, the terminal manager, saw the field pooling water last month and offered to fix the field, which would be maintained afterwards by the Little League.
IMTT would install a clay infield, reseed the grass, install a sprinkler system, and improve the drainage system with possible additional improvements in the future that could include new bleachers and lights.
“If the field is used for what it’s supposed to be used for, then it shouldn’t be a problem.” – Steve Gallo
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She said the Pony field is the only field in the city in which balls are hit toward houses, and that this has been an ongoing battle for years.
While this information was new to most of the council members, who took their seats only in July, Business Administrator Steve Gallo said steps have been taken over the years to help modify the situation, including the installation of a high fence.
But Magenheimer said the netting installed at the top of the fence is now in tatters, and often balls are hit over it anyway.
Some city officials said the kids who use the field cannot hit the ball over the high fence, something disputed by Magenheimer and other residents.
But some claim older kids use the field when it is supposed to be limited to kids 14 or younger, and these kids see the fence as a challenge, deliberately hitting balls over it.
While City Council President Terrence Ruane said he would seek to have the police enforce the law and fine older kids and adults that use the field, Police Chief Robert Kubert said the police cannot fine juveniles who are under 18 years old, and if parents – warned about the situation – do not stop their kids, the most the police can do is largely chase the older kids off the field.
The city has tried to help
Gallo said the city has tried to help residents over the years, taking steps to make it more difficult for the wrong people to use the field. But he noted some residents object to the city locking the field, insisting that it be left open. Other residents, he said, do not want the field turned around.
IMTT, he said, is willing to repair the netting that was put on top of the fence, but says turning the field around may be too expensive.
Ruane said IMTT is offering the city a gift to help repair the field, but that this problem with the residents must be resolved through enforcement.
“We’ll do what we can to address their issues,” Gallo said in a later interview. “If the field is used for what it’s supposed to be used for, then it shouldn’t be a problem. It isn’t the kids in the Pony League that are hitting the balls on to the Magenheimer’s property. It is other kids.”
City Council members said they could not refuse the gift from IMTT, because kids need the field to play.
While some residents complained that control of the field is in the hands of the Little League, even though the property is owned by the city, Gary Chmielewski said this isn’t the case. The Little League will now maintain the property. But use of the field is regulated by the city, which requires permits and proof of insurance for use of the field by an organized league.
The city has the keys to the fields and can provide access if residents want it.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.