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Highlands seeks county grant to repair Boyle/Highlands field; residents urge safety and quicker fixes
Summary
A borough presentation outlined a $473,000 park-improvement project (15% contingency ≈ $550,000) for Boyle/Highlands field and a 50% Monmouth County grant request; residents urged immediate safety fixes, netting and fundraising options while the borough emphasized the grant’s phased approach.
The Borough of Highlands presented a proposal June 17 to apply for a Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant to upgrade Boyle/Highlands conversion field, describing a multi-phase project focused on safety and amenities.
The borough engineer said the project scope includes replacing timber retaining walls with anchored wall systems, upgrading fencing and the backstop, repairing dugouts, improving bleacher areas and adding modest parking and site amenities. The engineer estimated a project cost of $473,000 with a 15% contingency — roughly $550,000 — and said the borough will seek a county grant for 50 percent of the cost (Monmouth County grants are capped at $500,000 per project and competitive).
The presenter described a timeline that begins with an environmental assessment of soils, followed by design and permitting and later bidding, with construction anticipated in fiscal year 2028 if the grant is awarded.
Residents and school representatives encouraged faster interim fixes and additional safety features. Rose, a resident who gave a local address, asked whether netting would prevent balls from reaching Route 36 and whether lighting could be considered for extended play; she also proposed sponsorship banners and other fundraising to accelerate cosmetic and safety work. “We made it to states in 2015,” Rose said, arguing the field has hosted successful teams but lacks amenities to host larger events now.
Council members and staff suggested smaller community projects could address immediate hazards — for example, removing old bleachers and pouring concrete pads and purchasing aluminum bleachers — while the larger grant would fund retaining-wall and infrastructure work. The presenter said netting and lighting are options for later phases, but phase 1 focuses on structural safety (retaining walls) and basic amenity upgrades.
The council moved to authorize the borough to apply for the county grant (resolution R26-136) and approved the application during the meeting.
