Renovations now under way at Carteret Park

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Work to remediate the longtime drainage problem at Carteret Park is now under way.

According to Councilman Dan Murphy, the multi-purpose field is being regraded. Murphy said the east-side backstop will also be removed to provide for a smaller soccer field. An off-leash area of the park will be created for dogs.

“The area is currently an unofficial dog area,” Murphy said. “We’re making it easier for dog owners by separating the dog area from the playground.”
New playground equipment will also be installed.

Murphy said the drainage problem was because the soil was too compacted. On Tuesday, workers could be seen using a steam shovel to fill a dump truck with soil.
The first time the park needed soil maintenance was about 20 years ago, according to Murphy.

“We had a radon problem,” he said. “It was a superfund site.”
After that work, accomplished by the Army Corp of Engineers and a vendor, Murphy said there was a drainage problem. He said the borough has tried twice to correct the problem.

But this time, he said the borough is becoming “very aggressive” with its solution.
Borough engineer Michael Rohal said about 18 inches of the existing soil was being removed and replaced.

“The borough Is also installing a drainage system,” he said.
Murphy said the remediation is cost $300,000 and the new playground equipment another $100,000.

“We want the field for the fall events,” he said. “It’s used quite a lot.”
The park is natural grass.

“People prefer natural grass,” Murphy said.