Construction Eyed for Memorial Field Bathrooms

The Township of Cranford received an $88,000 Kids’ Recreation Trust Fund Grant that will be used for three projects at Roosevelt Field, Sherman Field and Memorial Field.

On Monday evening, Commissioner Andis Kalnins explained that the Township is working with Rutgers for suggestions on types of grasses and aeration for Sherman Field and once the costs come back for that the Township can plan out how much money to allocate to the other projects, including playground equipment at Roosevelt and the bathrooms at Memorial.

Commissioner Lisa Adubato asked the committee if the funds would be going towards a plan for the bathrooms at Memorial Field, but Mayor Tom Hannen said that the funds would be for construction.

“The first phase was the architect for the plans, this money would be going towards construction,” he said. “And obviously out of $88,000 depending on how much the other stuff costs there’s not going to be a lot, so it will probably have to be done in two phases.”

She continued by asking who would match the funds for the grants. Kalnins said that the soccer and lacrosse clubs have agreed to pitch in for funds on Sherman Field and Cranford PAL said they would contribute to the Memorial Field bathrooms, but otherwise the town would match the grants.

He added they would continue to seek assistance to match the grant from other organizations.

When the committee applied for the grant back in September, Commissioner Kalnis voted against the it, because the project at Memorial Field is Board of Education property and houses Board of Education events, such as the high school athletic games. However, he stated he fully supported the projects and would move forward if the Board of Education were financially matching the grants.

Hannen said he has reached out to the Board of Education on the Memorial Field project, but has not heard back.

Kalnins said Rutgers should be getting back to the Township by the end of the week with estimated costs for the Sherman Field project.