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Parents and youth sports groups press Hawthorne for swift fixes to Franklin Field
Summary
Parents, coaches and youth-sports representatives urged the council to address long-standing safety and maintenance problems at Franklin Field, saying uneven surfaces and exposed dirt have prompted visiting teams to avoid Hawthorne; the mayor and staff pledged near-term repairs and to explore longer-term funding options.
A steady stream of parents, coaches and local sports leaders used the council's public-comment period to demand a plan to repair Franklin Field, which speakers said has years of deferred maintenance that now threatens player safety and the town’s ability to host games.
"This field has gone neglected for far too long," said John Baird, president of the Hawthorne Cubs, summarizing months and years of photos and observations collected by volunteers. Parents and club leaders said sections of the natural-grass surface have large exposed-dirt areas, inconsistent elevation changes—one speaker described "12 inch difference in grade" in places—and irrigation problems that together create safety and health concerns for youth athletes.
Resident Tony Enraj urged the borough to consider durable, long-term options including developer contributions, grants or a public–private partnership, and to base any turf-vs.-grass decision on research rather than anecdotes. "This is not just about grass versus turf. It should be about providing Hawthorne’s children with a safe place to play," he said.
Mayor Lane told the meeting that the DPW director and a field engineer walked Franklin Field and identified work that can improve safety. He said the borough plans to begin contractor work in the near term — "probably within two weeks" — to address bare spots and elevations, lay sod where appropriate and make the surface safer for the coming season while longer-term options are explored.
Multiple visiting-league representatives and new leaders of Hawthorne Lacrosse also addressed the council, saying other towns in the league are hesitant to schedule games in Hawthorne because of field conditions. Speakers asked the borough to prioritize a durable solution because the field is heavily used year-round by football, lacrosse, youth baseball and other programs.
Council members acknowledged the problem, encouraged continued dialogue with user groups and asked staff to report back with a clear timeline and funding options. The council did not make a formal capital-commitment decision in this meeting but committed to immediate repairs to improve safety and to pursue longer-term financing alternatives.
