By BOB JORDAN
FREEHOLD BUREAU
HOWELL — Another step toward opening a new home for the township's youth soccer clubs was taken when the Township Council unanimously adopted a $1.9 million bond ordinance and a related capital ordinance, most of which will be used to develop a park on the Bonim Tract.
The 178 acres, the site of fields for corn and other crops for many years on Route 547 and Easy Street in the southern section of the township, will have up to 24 soccer fields that are expected to be ready for play in the fall of 2006, Parks and Recreation Director Helene Schlegel said on Wednesday.
"The Bonim Tract is going to be a beautiful home for all the soccer leagues," Mayor Joseph DiBella said.
Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Filiatreault said the bond ordinance also includes $150,000 for a Sept. 11, 2001, memorial being built at town hall.
The bond ordinance and a $37,000 capital ordinance were approved at Tuesday night's council meeting.
The capital ordinance involves $32,000 for a Green Acres-required environmental cleanup of the Bonim Tract. Schlegel said the money will be used to remove old farm buildings and equipment. The ordinance, which involves moving funds from the township's surplus into the general capital fund, also has $5,000 for the purchase of transportable speed bumps for use on township roads.
The Bonim Tract was purchased by the township last year for nearly $3 million, an amount partially offset by $1.4 million in state Green Acres funding, officials said.
About $1.5 million from the council's action on Tuesday is earmarked for the first phase to develop the fields and parking areas, Filiatreault said.
Schlegel said a future development phase includes plans for installing lights at two of the fields and building three comfort stations, each having bathrooms and a food counter.
More than 2,000 children play for recreation and travel teams in the township's three youth soccer organizations — the Howell, Howell United and Pinelanders soccer clubs — said Eric Hlava, president of Howell United.
The groups now use various township fields and share Oak Glen Park with other activity organizations, Schlegel said.
"The optimum thing would be that the three soccer groups all relocate to this central location," Schlegel said. "Soccer has been waiting for a long time for this. We're looking forward to opening this property."
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