Politics & Government

Point Beach Little League Fields to Be Renovated

Work to start "right away" on three fields, says borough administrator

Three Point Beach Little League fields will be renovated with $522,420 in Open Space Trust Fund money.

By a vote of 4 to 1, the Borough council voted Tuesday to award a contract of $522,240 from the Open Space Trust Fund to Down to Earth Landscaping to renovate the fields off Route 35 and Arnold Avenue.

Councilman Michael Corbally cast the lone no vote, saying that although he has been involved in and strongly supports Little League, he doesn't think such a large expenditure will be worth it in the long run.

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He said that when he was on one of the boards overseeing Little League in the mid '90s, he supported a renovation of the fields.

"But three or four years later, the flooding problems started again," he said.

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Councilman Frank Rizzo was absent.

After the lengthy meeting, when Borough Business Administrator Chris Riehl was asked when the work will start, she said, "Right away. We already went out to bid. We were just waiting for the council's authorization."

Down to Earth was the lowest, responsible bidder for the job, she said.

A number of residents who regularly attend meetings, including Dave Cavagnaro, Vincent Castin, Anne Lightburn and Ben Dispoto, voiced objections to the proposal, saying the money should be used to pay down debt from other Open Space expenditures.

Kristin Hennessy, New Jersey Avenue, also spoke against the field renovation. She said that although she supports Little League, she felt it was the wrong time to be spending a large amount of money on the project.

However, her brother, Councilman Sean Hennessy, not only voted for it, but was the council member to make the motion for the resolution.

A number of supporters, including league and Recreation board members, said the fields are safety hazards to young players and the work shouldn't be put off any longer.

Rob Moreau, a Little League parent, said that in one recent game, two girls blew out their knees sliding into second base on the softball field.

Vincent Cicalese Jr., 12, who was at the meeting with his father, Vincent Cicalese, the Little League president, said he had been looking forward to come to the meeting.

"I was excited to come and see how it would work out, if we would get our fields," he said, grinning ear to ear, after the council voted to renovate.

Cicalese, who lives on Parkway, had told the council, "This isn't just about 240 kids this year, it's about 240 for the next 30 years, hopefully more."

Vincent Storino, Curtis Avenue, a Little League dad, told the council, "I feel the time for the Little League project is now. It may cost more later."


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