Township Committee Appropriates Money For Shunpike Field Improvements

The township committee has appropriated $1.05 million in funds that will be used to renovate parts of the Shunpike Field sports complex.

No one spoke at a public hearing before the committee appropriated the funds at a committee meeting Thursday. It did so by a unanimous vote.

The ordinance the board approved is fully funded, and the township will not incur any debt in connection with the matter.

Even though the money has been approved, a contract for the work to be done has yet to be awarded.

Township Administrator Thomas Ciccarone said the committee is required to wait 20 days before it approves a contract for the work. Because of that, it will not be up for approval until the committee's Feb. 25 meeting.

Ciccarone said the committee will likely look to accept the lowest bid once it is eligible to vote on the matter.

"In all likelihood, that will be the recommendation," he said.

The township is only spending $350,000 of the $1.05 million total. The Chatham Athletic Foundation and the borough are each spending $350,000 as well.

As part of the work, an artificial turf field will be constructed on the site. Two baseball diamonds will be reconfigured to allow for more field space for practices and additional facilities, such as new restrooms, will also be added.