Cranford’s artificial turf ready for high school..

by Dave Lazarus

The Cranford Chronicle

CRANFORD -- With the hard work of getting approval for the project finally completed in late June, the second phase of the Cranford field artificial turf initiative has been gaining speed in July and appears headed to meeting its deadline of having Memorial Field ready for the Saturday, Sept. 12 night football opener against Scotch Plains Fanwood.

Cranford High School Athletic Director Marc Taglieri has been busy this summer monitoring the project daily and has been pleased with the pace of work and the commitment to getting the project completed on time.

"We are seeing positive things getting done every single day. The team responsible for the project has done many of these before and knows what needs to be done to get the field the way we want it," said Taglieri.

Atlas Track and Tennis through the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission pricing cooperative won the bid and has been working with general contractor John Vicci and town engineer Rick Marsden to work out issues related to field installation, which include grading for proper water runoff and proper excavation of the old grass field. With the field recently torn up for excavation, the next phase will be to put the proper stone formation underneath the turf.

Taglieri, who has been busy with his duties as athletic director has found the time to spend time at the Memorial Field nearly every day. Over the past few years, Taglieri has watched local rivals like Linden. AL Johnson, Scotch Plains Fanwood and Westfield install turf fields and is well aware of the numerous advantages that those towns obtained. Scheduling will be made far easier because rainouts will no longer be an issue for soccer and field hockey this fall. The field will also be lined for soccer, field hockey and lacrosse in the spring.

On the days that there are no athletic events scheduled, Taglieri plans to allow the two soccer teams, field hockey and football to use the field for practices on a rotating basis. But on most days this fall there will likely be an athletic event taking place.

"There is no limit to the events that we can schedule there now. We will still have some soccer and field hockey games at their current fields but for the most part they will be played at Memorial Field," said Taglieri, who is also hoping to draw the county soccer tournaments there if possible.

While night soccer and field hockey will now be possible, Taglieri has scheduled a majority of them for their normal 4 p.m. time slot. "The field is clearly what every athletic director wants to have. It gives you the luxury of being able to schedule out your entire fall season without worrying about cancellation. I am greatly appreciative of Cranford Athletic Turf Fund (CAT) and all the people and organizations that helped make this a reality," said Taglieri.

Started by Mayor David Robinson in at attempt to install synthetic turf without a capital expenditure by the township, the group raised donations from civic groups and a pledge from the Cranford Board of Education.

"It will be exciting on September 12 to finally see this long term goal become a reality," said Taglieri.