Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Monday, November 30th that the facelift being provided to Essex County Yanticaw Park has been expanded in scope to include improvements to the bocce court, perimeter fencing and a decorative retaining wall. The addition of these two new projects means that a total of over $3 million is currently being invested to modernize recreation facilities and infrastructure and enhance access in the Park.

"Essex County Yanticaw Park is a tremendous community resource. Nutley’s sports teams play here, seniors stroll the tree-lined walkways and children play and climb in the playground. The improvements being made will modernize our recreation facilities and ensure the park continues to meet the public’s recreation needs for generations to come," DiVincenzo said. "A great deal of work is being done at one time to enhance Yanticaw Park and there has been some disruption for people who use the park. We appreciate the community’s understanding and look forward to a completely revitalized facility when we are completed," he added.

The bocce court located on Park Drive will be reconstructed and horseshoe pit will be added. New playing surfaces will be installed and a pavilion will be erected to allow play throughout the year. Stone swales will be constructed to aid in surface drainage. The improvements were designed in-house by the Essex County Department of Public Works. Let It Grow from River Edge was awarded a competitively bid contract for $340,760 to perform the construction work.

Perimeter fencing and sidewalks will be repaired or replaced where necessary, and the concrete steps at Passaic Avenue entrance and the Park Drive entrance will be repaired. Decorative retaining walls along Park Drive will be repaired and painted. Decorative lights will be installed in the lower part of the park and additional benches and trash receptacles will be installed. The improvements were designed in-house by the Essex County Department of Public Works. Caro Corporation from Florham Park received a competitively bid contract for $477,425 to perform the construction work.

"With these recent projects, we will have this beautiful new recreation facility for the public to enjoy. Under Joe’s leadership, there is no place in New Jersey where so much is being done to improve park facilities than here in Essex County," Assemblyman and Freeholder Vice President Ralph Caputo said. "Carmen Orechio is a wonderful public servant and is well-deserving of this honor," he noted.

"Joe, once again you are at it improving our park facilities," Sheriff Armando Fontoura said. "We pledge we will do all we can so this place will remain safe and pristine so that everyone can enjoy these improvements," he added.

A three-phase project to renovate Yanticaw Park began in June 2009. The improvements include the following:

· Phase 1: The John Henry Walker Field will receive a clay dirt infield with a synthetic grass outfield, an improved drainage system, new fencing, covered dugouts, a bullpen area, bleachers and handicapped-accessible seating for spectators. The scoreboard will be relocated behind the leftfield wall. The two other fields along Passaic Avenue will be re-graded to level the playing field on the two diamonds and address erosion. The smaller field will be realigned so there is less overlap in the outfield between the two fields. The fields will receive new clay infields, natural grass turf in the outfield, drainage and irrigation systems, covered dugouts, fencing and bleachers. In addition, pathways around the fields will be improved.

· Phase 2: Lighting and pathway improvements will be made in the western section of the park and the basketball court will be renovated. The lighting plan was coordinated with PSE&G and includes the installation of historic light poles. Pathways will be repaired where necessary. The basketball court will be rehabilitated with a new surface, lighting for night play and basketball equipment.

· Phase 3: The field house near the softball fields and the restroom building near the playground will be renovated. Both structures will receive modern bathroom fixtures, new windows, flooring, painting and lighting, and repairs to the buildings’ roofs will be made. The improvements will enhance the accessibility of the buildings to the public and will provide modern facilities.

All of the phases are underway simultaneously and will be completed by the spring of 2010. All five phases of the project are being funded with grants from the New Jersey Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.