No location for Babe Ruth field.
By: Matt Kirdahy
The Township Committee will leave two Cranbury soccer fields where they are, but still has to find a home for a Babe Ruth baseball field.
Finding a location for the baseball field may be difficult because of traces of arsenic found just north of the school, where the field was originally slated to be built.
Township Engineer Cathy Marcelli said there are slight levels of arsenic in the soil of the Wright property near the school’s tennis courts. The levels of arsenic are not high enough to pose a health risk, however, they may be high enough to keep the Department of Environmental Protection from approving the site for a ball field.
In September 2002, Ms. Marcelli conducted preliminary testing of the top 6 inches of soil in the area.
"We recommended that the township not pursue any additional soil samplings until it selected a place for the ball fields," Ms. Marcelli said.
The committee had been considering two plans to move and build athletic fields on the Wright property. The first plan called for construction of the baseball field next to the Cranbury School tennis courts. Another plan called for the school’s two soccer fields to be moved near the tennis courts and the baseball field to be put in their place. The soccer fields currently are located in the western corner of the Wright property.
According to Mayor Pari Stave, now that the committee has decided to not move the soccer fields, it must find a suitable site for the baseball field. On Monday, the committee asked that Ms. Marcelli do additional soil testing to find a suitable location.
Ms. Marcelli said that if the conditions are not suitable, it would lengthen the waiting process for building a field.
Mayor Stave said that is why the township is considering alternative locations, though none has been named.
"We want to continue to move in an expeditious fashion," Mayor Stave said. "If the conditions cause further delay, we want to have our options open."
Some 100 residents attended Monday’s Township Committee meeting. Many said finding a safer location for the baseball field was the right decision.
The township purchased the 40-acre Wright south property and the 82-acre Wright north property in October 2001 for about $2.65 million. Most of the property has been dedicated for farmland preservation, but the committee is retaining 12 acres for township use.
Mayor Stave said the committee’s choice was best because it’s cheaper than the other alternative and it keeps soccer fields that are considered to be a township treasure intact.
Mayor Stave said the baseball field is going to cost around $75,000.
According to the Web site, www.baberuthleague.org, an official Babe Ruth League baseball field is built on a minimum of 3 to 3.85 acres of land and includes 4- to 6-foot fencing with a warning track placed 10 feet in front of the outfield fence. Both teams have a dugout and there is adequate seating for spectators on benches adjacent to the field.
Most Cranbury residents said Monday that they want a field as soon as possible.
Slightly more than a dozen residents spoke Monday, some receiving applause from the audience after voicing support for keeping the soccer fields where they are.
Mark Madden of Griggs Road said he wanted a baseball field as soon as possible because the town has done without it for so long enough.
"It’s a shame that in this day and age we might be the only school in New Jersey, well middle school, that doesn’t have a baseball field. It’s a shame that this school has had to play every game away for the last three years for lack of a field."
The Cranbury baseball teams have been playing their games at fields in Princeton and West Windsor.
Karen Cusworth of Bunker Hill Drive said she loves the idea of having the Babe Ruth field installed, but the cost was just too high.
"I can’t justify spending that money to do that," Ms. Cusworth said.
Rob Zurfluh of Bunker Hill Drive said he didn’t want a baseball field that close to his home.
His neighbor Daniel Abuhoff agreed, but said soccer fields invite more pedestrian traffic and could be a greater annoyance.
"I oppose the soccer fields being moved on the Wright south property," Mr. Abuhoff said. "It’s used 10 months out of the year. There would be a lot of traffic."
Paul Aprigliano of Hardley Drive said it is important to have a baseball field in town soon.
"We’ve had a lot of success in Cranbury as far as baseball and for the first time, we won the districts a couple of years ago as 15-year-olds," Mr. Aprigliano said. "We didn’t play one day in Cranbury, not one day. That’s a shame. I work out with my son on weekends and we have to go to Plainsboro and we have to go to West Windsor. That’s an embarrassment."
Beth Veghte of Bunker Hill Drive said that as important as the baseball field is, it is crucial to keep the soccer fields where they are.
"I think that we’re running out of space in town," Ms. Veghte said. "I have a hard time seeing a soccer field dug up. I would rather see the baseball field on the West property or the Wright south as opposed to disrupting those soccer fields."
Richard Kallan of Wynnewood Drive said he knew what was the best choice for the town all along and wondered why there was any argument.
"It’s cheaper, it doesn’t disrupt the soccer play and it gives the baseball players their field quicker," Mr. Kallan said. "What’s the issue?"

