ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES OPENING
OF SYNTHETIC GRASS SURFACE SOCCER FIELD
IN ESSEX COUNTY MONTE IRVIN ORANGE PARK
Improvements Address Overuse of Popular Soccer Field
by Providing a Modern and Safe Playing Field

Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. officially opened the synthetic grass surface soccer field in Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park on Monday, August 10th. Constructed in just four months, the new field provides the community with a durable, state-of-the-art soccer field that will be able to withstand tremendous use by local groups. 

“Over the last several years, a growing number of people have been utilizing Monte Irvin Orange Park for soccer games and, as a result, serious wear and tear on the field can be seen. The development of a synthetic grass field is our opportunity to provide the community with a modern field that can withstand almost non-stop use by soccer programs and clubs,” DiVincenzo said. “This project is another example of how our partnerships with the New Jersey Green Acres program and Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund are having a positive impact on our quality of life,” he added.

The field on the south side of the park between the gardens and basketball court is heavily used for soccer. The constant play had taken its toll on the natural turf and the playing field was worn out. The installation of the synthetic grass will maximize use of the area and provide a modern and safe playing field for the community. The regulation-size field will be lined for soccer, have an Essex County Seal at midfield and bleacher seating. A four-foot high fence will be erected along the perimeter of the field to enhance safety. The field will not be lighted.

French & Perrello Consulting Engineers from Wall received a $79,000 contract to design the synthetic surface soccer field. LandTek Group, Inc. of New York was awarded a competitively bid contract for $997,840 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project to resolve questions and ensure delays were avoided. The project was funded with a Multi-Park Improvement Grant from the NJ Green Acres program, a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation. The County worked with the New Jersey Education Consortium to obtain the U.S. Soccer Foundation grant.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation was established in 1995 and has taken a leading role in supporting the continuous development of the game of soccer at all levels. Since its inception, grants, financial support and loans have been made to help develop coaches, players and referees, and construct soccer fields, especially in economically disadvantaged urban areas. 

Revitalizing Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park

DiVincenzo’s administration has completed several improvement projects in Monte Irvin Orange Park as part of a comprehensive initiative to revitalize the Essex County Park System.

Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park was renamed in honor of baseball legend Monte Irvin in May 2006. Irvin was raised in Orange, was one of the first African Americans to play in the Major Leagues and was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. In addition, a memorial recognizing the valor of Orange Police Detective Kieran T. Shields was dedicated in April 2007. Shields lost his life on August 7, 2006, while attempting to apprehend a shooting suspect.

A $1.2 million facelift to upgrade the park entrances, gardens, baseball fields and pond area was completed in April 2007. The basketball court and restroom building were rebuilt in May 2006 for $527,968. Modern equipment and a rubberized safety surface were installed in the playground in March 2004. The colorful playground surface and game area made the facility the centerpiece of the Park and established a new standard for the playgrounds that Essex County has since built. The improvements were funded with grants from the NJ Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 18 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, three off-leash dog facilities and a castle. At 47.63 acres, Orange Park is the sixth largest County park in Essex and is considered to be part of the original County Park System designed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architectural firm. Property for Orange Park was purchased in 1897, making it one of the oldest county parks in the country.