BOE Moves Forward With Fields Plan

The Fields of Dreams proposal may be dead, but Par-Troy high school athletic fields could be covered in turf as early as late 2013.

The Parsippany Board of Education voted in May to  and to instead take control of the project itself and investigate having residents decide the matter via a bond referendum.

In furtherance of that plan, the school board heard a presentation at its Thursday night meeting that hinted at improvements that could become realities for and High Schools.

Representatives from Parette Somjen Architects LLC offered an extensive list of what upgrades are on the wish list for the high schools. These items could become reality if township residents agree in a BOE referendum vote that can come no sooner than November, but likely will take place in January if the state Department of Education gives the okay, according to architect Greg Somjen.

Somjen noted that while his team is talking about ideas for the future, no money figure has been esablished yet.

The wish list, according to the architect, includes:

• improvements to and an expansion of the track 
• replacement of the natural grass football fields with turf
• Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades
• bleacher improvements
• concession stand improvements
• restrooms
• addressing drainage issues
• new fencing
• modernized lighting
• a plan for protecting nearby wetlands 
• irrigation system
• sound system

Somjen also mentioned the possibility of incorporating lockers into a building connected to the concession stand.

"This would give the athletes a place to change and convene during halftime and before and after the game," he said.

An application must be made to the state Department of Education to get an approval for the referendum by a deadline of July 26.

"We hope to start construction in the summer of 2013," he said.

Additionally, Somjen said that a state statute requires that the local planning board review and recommend the project before any capital expenditures can be made.

The architect said that planners are being conscious of sticky issues, among them, adding lights.

"Placing lights may have an imapct [on neighbors] based on ll=ocation, height, etc.," he said. "We have to be conscious of potential light spillage and need to analyze and inform the district of all options."

He said it will also be necessary to check the township ordinance regarding light and light splllage.

Said Somjen, "Ultimately we'll supply values to all these things and present [the completed plan] to the board to determine if we are comfortable presenting it to the community [before the referendum]."