Borough Might Take Control of $2.7M Turf Project

With cash on hand a fraction of what was hoped for, the Glen Rock municipal government is considering taking over the multimillion dollar turf proposal from private group Game On! Glen Rock.

Long-standing crummy conditions at Lower Faber Field in 2010 led to residents to lobby for a vastly improved facility, comprising of two baseball diamonds and an overlapping multi-purpose field for soccer, lacrosse and football. While borough officials have been supportive of the effort, they maintained the town did not have the funds available to pay for the project. Game On! Glen Rock was formed with the intent to raise the money necessary, projected at more than $1 million.

To date, said Game On! Glen Rock Chairman Michael Stewart, the group has over $60,000 saved. It's not nearly enough, and with a competitive bond market, the borough is mulling options to take over the project.

"It's a case of we know what the users want but we don't know how it's going to be paid for," Mayor John van Keuren said. "That's what we're concerned with."

The latest numbers from the borough project a total cost of upwards of $2.7 million.

"The goal is to come up with a plan to limit the financial burden on the tax payers," Stewart said. "There is no decision regarding the council's approval. The finance committee is now putting together a plan that would make sense.  Game On Glen Rock's role will be to continue fundraising to help offset the minimal maintenance costs and resurfacing after 10+ years."

According to Stewart, Game On! is still active but "in a holding pattern." They're moving forward with a Home Run Derby and Men's Softball League on July 14 and have other events they hope to pursue. Otherwise, the group will be waiting for direction from the borough council.

"Much of the money collected was spent on running a non-profit organization, and fundraising events that didn't fare as well as we would have liked," said Stewart, a chiropractor in town. 

Van Keuren said the role of Game On! will be a supportive one in the months and years ahead.

"Exactly where they're going to fit in has yet to be determined. They've done a lot of research, so their advice will be very valuable. Where their money will be used remains to be seen. It's a case of their knowledge being almost as valuable as the money raised." 

A committee headed by Councilman Carmine Nogara has been formed to investigate the range number of options. The mayor said there was no timetable as to when any decision has been made.

The borough increased taxes in 2013 and is understandably wary of taking out bonds, though interest rates remain low.

"We've got a lot of work ahead of us," van Keuren said.