BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK – The term “build them and they will come” may never have been more true.
Weather permitting, some 160 soccer teams from various states will be the first to use the new synthetic fields at Heavenly Farms in this weekend’s annual Labor Day tournament, which also involves soccer fields at the adjacent Dideriksen Park and Middlesex County Fairgrounds.
The two turf fields were constructed this summer and dedicated by the township in an official ceremony Sunday at the new park, located at Dunhams Corner and Cranbury roads. For the East Brunswick Soccer Club, the fields arrive just in the nick of time, as the town lost use of some school fields due to ongoing construction.
“If there was ever a time for these two fields to open up,” this is it, said Soccer Club President Don Moore, noting that the town has already lost fields at the Hammarskjold Middle School and cannot get to those at the Lawrence Brook and Central elementary schools because of the construction. He noted that the club has, however, gained use of fields at Churchill Junior High School, which also helps.
“These are the saving graces for our club for the next year,” Moore said.
Sunday’s ceremony included music, rides, food vendors and free field play for the soccer club, though there was no official game.
The fields cost about $3.8 million when stormwater drainage, lighting, roads and other improvements are included. The township received a $500,000 county grant to defray part of the cost, and the East Brunswick Soccer Club also contributed $300,000. The state granted $125,000 for lights at the fields.
The fields will be used for soccer, football, lacrosse, field hockey and possibly other sports as well, since the field can be temporarily relined.
They are constructed of state-of-the-art synthetic turf, providing a safe playing surface, as well as a playing field that can be used rain or shine, according to a township press release.
Councilman David Stahl has said the new synthetic surface is a far cry from the old kind of turf that was notorious for resulting in player injuries. With regard to the relatively high costs for the turf fields, Stahl said the increased amount of usage they provide effectively makes them cheaper than grass fields in the long run.
Moore, stressing that the fields will be shared by various types of sports leagues, said his club will be pleased to use the fields for weekday practices without being at risk of damaging the surface before the weekend games, as is the case with grass fields.
“This is like a dream come true for the kids of East Brunswick,” Moore said. “We finally have a place they can play without having to worry about rain conditions and tearing up the grass.”
The soccer club includes children ages 6 to 16 from East Brunswick, Milltown, South River and Spotswood.
Further improvements, such as a scoreboard, are in the works for the synthetic fields, but the township is seeking help from the public. Those interested can contribute by purchasing 6-by-9-inch pavers that will be inscribed with a message of choice, and installed permanently in a 3,000-square-foot paved area.
“You might be a parent who wants to congratulate your child on completing their first year of soccer, or for a winning football season. Perhaps you want to recognize a coach for a job well done at the end of the season,” the township wrote in a press release, which advises those interested to call (732) 390-6797.
As for future plans at the 147-acre Heavenly Farms, the township is expected to build a $5 million community center with an auditorium and outdoor amphitheater, and additional passive and active recreational areas.
And that would be just fine with Moore and the rest of the soccer club.
“The key now,” he said, “is not to lose momentum, but make sure that more fields will be developed for soccer, football, lacrosse and the other sports.”