Oradell (NJ) opts to repair rather than replace

The borough has approved a short-term fix for fields at the Doug Parcells Athletic Complex, which have been closed to the public for the past three weeks.

The Borough Council authorized a deal with Natural Green Lawn Care for $34,768 on Saturday, opting to repair the playing surface rather than fully replace it. The improvements are expected to extend the life of the fields by at least a year, Borough Administrator Laura Graham said.

The vendor has told borough officials that repairs should not affect schedules for recreation leagues that start in the spring, according to a memo Graham sent out to league officials Monday.

The fields at the park on Ridgewood Avenue have been closed since Jan. 16, after a routine inspection revealed that areas of the synthetic surface were unsafe due to wear and tear. The turf was installed in 2005.