Politics & Government
UPDATED: Bloomingdale Rec Commission Discusses School Field Lighting Project
Commissioner said safety improvements are top priority.
The Bloomingdale Recreation Commission discussed the controversial Walter T. Bergen School lighting project at its meeting Monday.
The project, which includes , is one that Councilwoman and Recreation Liaison Linda Huntley said may be postponed due to some lack of enthusiasm of the council majority towards borrowing money for the project.
While discussing the lights and other plans for capital improvement, Commissioner Ray Yazdi said, “Do it now, while interest rates are low.”
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The commission agreed on the potential benefit such heavy undertakings can have, but was also was concerned about the safety of playing on the field.
Commissioner Meg Gray said “bells and whistles” like bleachers and scoreboards can be considered after the field is “as safe and playable as possible.”
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Plans for the field have been prioritized by the commission, placing accessibility and safety improvements at the top of their list of recommendations to the Recreation Open Space Advisory Board (ROSE).
In the immediate future, Recreation Commission members hope to see a fence built at the Walter T. Bergen School field, parallel to the first base line, to stop balls and the players retrieving them from entering a ditch that fills with water after rainfall. There was also talk of removing many rocks that protrude above ground from a field informally used for soccer and other activities.
In addition to these pending projects, the borough has many events planned for the public’s enjoyment including the Apr. 16 Easter Egg Hunt at the Walter T. Bergen field, near the tennis courts from noon to 2 p.m.
Clarification: A previous version of this article stated that the Recreation Commission is planning the Easter Egg Hunt and other public events, which is has not been discussed at this point. Also, many members of the recreation are in full support of and have advocated for the council to move forward with plans for the lighting project at the Walter T. Bergen School field, with those members considering it a priority.
