BY KAREN F. RILEY
Correspondent
On Sept. 25, Plumsted officials and youth soccer players dedicated a field that is expected to be ready in the spring. Taking part in the ceremony were (top row, l-r) Township Committeewoman Ada Roberts, Mayor Ronald S. Dancer, New Egypt Youth Soccer board Secretary Rich Sample, board President Anthony Marabuto, coach Jack Wig, board Treasurer Guy Dellannoy, coach Pat DiMeola, board Vice President Gary Hartman, League Coordinator Gary Rette and Township Committeeman Ken Francis. PLUMSTED — At 10 a.m. on Sept. 25, Scott Sample was busy trying to kick a soccer ball past his brother, Nick. For them it wasn’t any different than team practice, or playing at home in their backyard. But this wasn’t just any old field they were playing on — it was the newest addition to Plumsted’s recreation department.
Scott and Nick, along with their father, Rich Sample, who serves as the New Egypt Youth Soccer League’s board secretary, were among those on hand to see the new field dedicated. The full-size regulation soccer field, along with two full-size regulation basketball courts, were donated by the Township Commit-tee. The land was recently leveled and seeding will begin soon. The field is expected to be ready for play by the spring.
In the early 1990s the committee purchased 60 acres on Evergreen Road. On this land a new municipal building, high school, middle school, public library and most recently, the New Egypt Primary School, were built.
The land was once part of the Singleton family residence and farm. The New Egypt Historical Society now occupies the original Singleton family home, situated between the municipal building and the primary school. With the creation of the new soccer field and basketball courts, the land is almost fully built upon, Mayor Ronald S. Dancer said. The remainder of the tract is primarily wetlands along the back of the property.
The fields are behind the municipal building.
“It’s right in the hub of the entire complex and parking is very accessible,” Dancer said. “And in the future, if we were to get lights for the field, we already have the power here to hook it up.”
The New Egypt Soccer League’s enrollment is at an all-time high with more than 400 players, according to league President Anthony Marabuto. The soccer league has 35 recreational teams and two travel teams. Players from pre-kindergarten up to the eighth grade are eligible to play.
League Coordinator Gary Rette said representatives of the league approached the Township Committee about using the land.
“We needed the space. Our league was growing rapidly and we were running out of room,” Rette said.
The committee, after discussion, believed it was a good idea. All the fields in the township are for public use, not just for league play, Dancer pointed out.
Township Committeeman Ken Francis, who was on hand for the dedication ceremony, agreed that the fields are a benefit to the entire community.
“It’s one of the best investments we can make in town,” Francis said. “You have kids learning teamwork, getting fit and doing things together with the family — something that will benefit them later in life. When we donated this land we got a great investment on our return — we are doing something that will benefit our kids, our families and our town.”