SOUTH RIVER — A local councilman is proposing that a newly opened field be lighted instead of the one at Daley’s Pond Park.
Councilman Shawn Haussermann said he would like the lights proposed as part of the renovation work at Daley’s Pond Park to be used at the Heritage Woods soccer field instead.
"We can compromise with [the residents] and we really don’t have to lose," said Haussermann.
Haussermann said he doubts that residents who play soccer will use Daley’s Pond Park as often as the Heritage Woods park.
"I bet you Daley’s Pond won’t be the place that will be used," said Haussermann. "It will just be the place where the lights will be."
Haussermann’s proposal to look into putting the lights at the Heritage Woods park, however, was voted down by the rest of the council
The Heritage Woods developers, Hazlet-based Matzel and Mumford, agreed to reserve a plot and construct a recreation area as part of the requirements of developers in the borough’s master plan.
Under their agreement, the 26-home development would include a softball field, a soccer field and a multipurpose field.
On Oct. 16, representatives from the firm and the borough broke ground on the future location of the soccer field.
The field, which lies just off Whitehead Avenue, is expected to be completed and ready for play by next summer.
In addition to the fields, the firm is also planning on constructing a 31-space parking lot which may later be expanded to include 30 more spots.
Before plans for all three fields can be completed, the borough will have to contact the state Department of Environmental Protection to see what types of environmental constraints the firm may face.
The proposal to construct lights at the Daley’s Pond Park soccer field has been the subject of debate for some time in the borough.
Representatives from the Portuguese Soccer Club and the borough recreation commission have been working together in an effort to renovate the current field at the Prospect Street park.
Part of the plans include erecting lighting at the field for night play, and that has hit a nerve in some residents.
Many of the residents who have complained say they don’t want the field to be lighted because they fear it will cause problems with noise, traffic and parking, will attract too many parkgoers and will bring in late-night play.
Council President David Sliker said, however, that there would be just as many residential concerns at the Heritage Woods park as there are at Daley’s Pond Park.
The borough will now go out to bid for the lighting and irrigation system at Daley’s Pond Park.

