Dundee Island field staff honored after earning 2025 Field of Distinction award

Parks and Recreation Director Daryl Sparta told the Passaic County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 29 that Dundee Island field, adjacent to the Passaic River, won the Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey's 2025 Field of Distinction award.

Sparta said the field posed unusual challenges: it is undersized, lies within a floodplain and faces heavy demand from neighborhood players. To address those constraints, the county created a field maintenance division with a science-based agronomic plan, community outreach and targeted equipment investments. Sparta named lead staff involved in daily care: Vinny Spano, supervisor Miguel de Jesus and crew members Presidio Guzman, Oliver Vargas and Chris Basilio.

"This award is definitely a reflection of our team and it represents what's possible when you can put the right people together, with the right plan," Sparta said, thanking commissioners and administration for support.

Commissioners invited the maintenance team forward to receive certificates. A commissioner noted Dundee Island is the county's first riverfront park and praised the staff for maintaining natural grass conditions despite periodic flooding.

The recognition underscores the county's emphasis on maintaining municipal athletic fields to high agronomic and safety standards rather than converting to synthetic surfaces. The board applauded the staff and noted the award as an example of interdepartmental coordination that included community education and equipment investments.