BY ANN GENADER
WEST MILFORD – Local soccer players and their supporters will have their wishes come true this year.
The long-awaited Farrell Soccer Field Rehabilitation Project is about to get underway.
The Township Council plans on including the funds to renovate the fields as one of several projects in its estimated $3 million Capital Budget for the year.
Sealed bids from contractors interested in working on the job will be received in the office of Township of West Milford Clerk Antoinette Battaglia at the municipal building on March 8 at 10 a. m.
Bids received will be reviewed by township officials, and after professionals study the submitted proposals, the Township Council will review their recommendations and decide whether to issue a contract to a successful bidder.
The work will include stripping, removal and disposal of existing turf grass, tree removal, grading and preparation of sub grade, top soiling, mulching, fertilizing and seeding, soil erosion and sediment control measures and other incidental work.
There are two soccer fields on the site on Lycosky Drive, off Marshall Hill Road.
The property is a former township landfill that underwent a long cleanup operation some years ago.
Farrell Field is named for the late James Farrell a transplanted New Yorker who chose to live at Upper Greenwood Lake.
He was a tireless worker for township youths, who became a summer resident at Upper Greenwood Lake in 1936 and began to stay in the community year-round in 1963.
In the 1940s he had organized an Upper Greenwood Lake baseball team.
Later, he started a youth program that was based at the Upper Greenwood Lake Clubhouse.
By 1971 he was involved in providing township-wide recreation activities for township children.
Farrell was appointed chairman of the township recreation committee that same year, and worked toward establishing the Bubbling Springs Park Recreation Area.
Farrell’s connections and expertise in sports activities benefitted many.
His father in-law was the equipment manager for the New York Yankees and a brother-in-law managed equipment for the San Francisco Giants.
He was instrumental in establishing the West Milford Police Athletic League (PAL) having been active with PAL in New York City.
Farrell also served in the U.S. Navy for four years and served the nation during World War I.
Later he served as a National Guard sergeant with the 102nd Engineering Corps.
When he was just 25 years old, the Tunnel and Subway Construction Workers Union elected him as its secretary.
During that time he helped organize The American Federation of Labor in New York City.
Farrell joined the New York City Fire Department in 1929 and served it for 26 years.
His many life experiences included working with the city bomb squad and playing bit parts as a bartender or doorman in Edison for Fox films.