On the 50-yard line of a snow-covered football field this past Thursday afternoon, Mayor David Roberts announced that the city has been approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) for a $2 million overhaul of the district’s athletic field at Kennedy Stadium.
According to city officials, the entire field will be resurfaced using the latest-generation artificial turf. This turf, which resembles grass, as opposed to a hard, flat surface, is currently in use at the Stevens Institute of Technology.
Accompanying the field will be a new all-weather surface track. According to Tim Calligy, the district’s facility director, the renovation is scheduled to begin in early spring and will take approximately three months to complete.
The New Jersey Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act, passed in July of 2000, said the state would invest $8.6 billion in public school construction over the next decade, including construction projects in 30 “special needs” school districts, of which Hoboken is one. This is one of many projects this money will fund.
“I’m delighted to announce that through the efforts of our school board trustees, we are able to obtain this crucial funding to rehabilitate the focal point of recreation and athletic competition for our public school children,” Roberts said. “This is the first of several state funded initiatives that will benefit our community and our goal of improving our public schools.”
The field renovation will be one of the first tangible products of the state’s school construction initiative. According to the district’s superintendent of schools, Patrick Gagliardi, the district is looking to build a middle/high school campus near, possibly across the street from Kennedy Stadium. Construction of the new schools will be entirely funded by the EDA.
“This was a long and well-thought out plan,” said Gagliardi. “The overall result of this will be a long-lasting program to better our community by harnessing financial resources to improve academic and recreation at Hoboken’s public schools.”
Roberts also said Thursday that it is his intention to turn the Cognis Corp. chemical plant at 1301 Jefferson St. into athletic fields. Roberts said he would announce the specifics of the project and how it will be funded in the near future.
Many residents still refer to the facility as the Henkel Plant, after its former owners. The Henkel Group completed the sale and transfer of ownership of its independent chemicals business to Cognis on Nov. 30, 2001. The chemical plant is scheduled to close by the third quarter of 2003.
Present at Thursday press conference were State Sen. Bernard Kenny (D-Hoboken), City Council President Ruben Ramos, 5th Ward Councilman Michael Cricco, 4th Ward Councilman Chris Campos, Hoboken High School Principal John Lavagnino, and James Farina of the Board of Education.
In the past year, Kenny, who is the state Senate’s majority leader, has lobbied for Hoboken to get its share of Abbott Funds. “Hoboken has been right in the front of the line so far,” said Kenny Thursday. “Mayor Roberts and I will continue to work hard to make sure that Hoboken will remain well ahead of the curve.”
Public meeting
Additionally, Roberts announced that he has called for a special meeting of the City Council on March 12 at 7 p.m. at City Hall to conduct a public workshop on his school initiatives. According to the mayor, the meeting will serve as a briefing of the school district’s construction plans and allow public comment.