Glen Rock HS Fields Won't be Ready for Fall Sports Season

Glen Rock teams will have to get used to playing on the road this fall – the construction work on the athletic fields will not be completed until after the season has ended, according to the school's athletic conference.

"It looks like we will be somewhat delayed and our fall season is in jeopardy," Principal John Arlotta told Patch early Tuesday afternoon. "If so, we will work to move games either away or to some neutral sites."

Most of the fall matches scheduled will be played away from Glen Rock, according to a note posted on the New Jersey Interscholastic Conference website.

Some soccer games may be hosted on the lower soccer field on a game-by-game basis. JV and freshmen soccer matches may be hosted at other facilities in town, Arlotta said. Girls' tennis matches will be played at the Memorial tennis courts.

"While this is disappointing to all, the long term results of such a state of the art athletic facility and the ability to correct our long standing drainage issues are still very exciting!" Arlotta said.

Construction work for the $3.5 million – which includes turfing the two fields, installing a new track and constructing a water retention system – has been delayed by a rainy summer and the discovery of "unsuitable soil," officials have said.

The Glen Rock Gazette reported the costs for soil removal had been reduced from an  change order to less than $400,000. The report indicated the school board would be discussing an updated timetable at its upcoming Monday board meeting.

Business Administrator Michael Rinderknecht did not respond to multiple requests for comment. A Glen Rock schools spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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