Memorial Park Reopens Saturday [VIDEO]

Chatham Borough Mayor Bruce Harris, Council President James Lonergan and other local officials will be on site Saturday morning for the rededication of Memorial Park and Pool.

The project, completed this week, wraps up over a week before the projected finish date of Memorial Day weekend. Borough Engineer Vincent J. DeNave said.

The opening ceremony marks the end of a process which began over two years ago when the borough first began to evaluate whether substantial improvements to the pool were warranted or wanted.

The and made recommendations for the improvements to the council, which opted for a . Voters opted for a tax increase in order to save the pool, with the final tally showing 1,524 residents in favor, 1,041 opposed.

The project to renovate the park and the pool to Summit-based Z-Tech Contracting Inc. for $840,224.50. According to DeNave, the original contract included:

• Rehabilitate and relocation of two softball/Little League fields
• Addition of 14 parking spaces along North Passaic
• Rehabilitation of main pool
• Construction of zero-entry kiddie pool
• Associated fencing (thinner mesh, anti-climb)
• Drainage improvements to field area
• Replacement of landscaping

The project broke ground after Labor Day 2011. Over the life of the project, the council approved several scope changes to accommodate the following alterations:

• Addition of rain garden, funded by donations from , Z-Tech Contractors, Scandic Builders and Green Path Landscaping
• Addition of basketball court, funded in large part by a grant from the Chatham Athletic Foundation
• Relocation of asphalt walkway through the playground area
• Fencing extended along the north end of the field area (6 ft. high)
• Removal and replacement of all playground fencing to match black fencing
• Addition of 8-ft. fencing around basketball area.
• Additional sod work in areas not anticipated in project (rain garden, in front of pool, other areas, installed to meet opening date of May 19)
• Additional concrete work, including walkways around poolhouse
• Portable ADA lift for pool area
• Additional landscaping around the entire perimeter of the park

The final total cost of the project was $920,000, less than 10 percent over the original contract amount.

In an email to Chatham Patch, DeNave said, "all additions to the job were enhancements that the Borough felt would improve the function and flow in the park and playground area."

Electrical and health inspepctions have been successfuly completed, DeNave said.

Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the first baseball game on the new field to follow at 11 a.m. Lonergan, who has been intimately involved with the plans to improve the pool since before , will make the first pitch.