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Junior commissioner presents plan to fix Central Elementary/middle-school athletic field
Summary
A student junior commissioner asked the Elizabeth Forward School District to regrade and improve drainage at a frequently waterlogged elementary/middle-school athletic field, saying the work would create safer conditions and more community play space; engineers offered two remediation options and potential cost-saving measures.
A junior commissioner from Elizabeth Township asked the Elizabeth Forward School District board on Nov. 12 to approve remediation work on the district’s Central Elementary and middle-school athletic field to fix chronic grading and drainage problems that create standing water and trip hazards.
“The proposed upgrade plan would to regrade and level off the field,” the student said, explaining the goal was to improve drainage and soil composition so the field would be safe for school and community use. The student told the board the project would prioritize shared access for youth leagues as well as school teams.
Chris Quialla, owner of PDDM Solutions, said the site assessment measured about 57,000 square feet and showed low spots that trap water. “There is some uneven surfaces that presents ponding of water and then also the uneven surfaces,” Quialla said, describing trip hazards for soccer and football players. He presented two approaches: a lower-cost “Option A” involving regrading, filling low spots with available topsoil, seeding and short-term fixes that could require touch-ups in subsequent years, and a more expensive “Option B” that would include more extensive stormwater management, possibly underground drainage, and additional permitting if disturbance exceeds one acre.
Quialla said the district could save money by reusing dirt from the high-school project and that Option A could be completed in roughly a month, while Option B would take longer because of design and permitting. He warned that if the work disturbs more than one acre the district must seek an NPDES permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection, which increases cost and timeline.
Board members asked whether injuries had occurred; the student and presenters cited instances of twisted ankles and coaches’ concerns as motivation to mitigate risk. Several board members thanked the student for the proposal and asked staff to research logistics, costs, and whether the district could accept donated material from the high-school project.
Next steps: presenters said they would provide detailed cost estimates and permit requirements if the board expressed interest. The board did not vote on the proposal at the Nov. 12 meeting.
