Supporters of the De Hart Field renovation received good news Tuesday as soil samples taken of the area proved negative for any dangerous toxins.

So the long-awaited rehab of the field can go forward.

"I'm very pleased with the good news," said Township Committee member Jerry Ryan. "I was worried about disruptions to plans or costs."

The soil samples were taken two weeks ago after State Department of Environmental Protection officials, who are expected to provide some $1 million in state "Green Acres" funding for the $2 million project, said they had to test the soil on the field for possible contamination.

TC members were told then that the field had once been the site of an agricultural operation decades ago, which included greenhouses that might have contributed to lead or other contaminants.

"You can't do anything about it," Mayor Vic De Luca said at the time.

An e-mail to town officials, posted below, from the firm hired to test the soil revealed the clean bill.

"From: Russ Baer

Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 4:28 PM
To: Richard Calbi
Subject: Dehart Park and Maplecrest Shelter

Rich,

The investigation at Maplecrest Shelter is scheduled for Friday, May 22nd.

Attached is a summary of the analytical results for Dehart Park. All results were below the soil remediation standards. We are in the process of putting together the Site Investigation Report for submittal to the NJDEP.

Russell C. Baer, CHMM
Senior Project Manager

Matrix New World Engineering, Inc."

The TC has already authorized the project to go out to bid as one large contract, voting 3-1 last month. Fred Profeta, who has opposed an all-in-one approach, voted
no, while Vice Mayor Kathy Leventhal was absent.

As it stands, the project will include two overlapping soccer fields and a baseball field, along with new lighting and other infrastructure. Ryan said the TC plans to advertise for bids on May 21., receive the bids June 11, and award a contract before the end of June.