Schools

Foley Field Re-Opens Wednesday Night with Ribbon-Cutting and 9/11 Memorial

Thursday night's honorary ceremonies culminate with Bengals home game Friday night

The Bloomfield school district will host two nights of celebrations beginning tonight at 7 p.m., to open the newly-renovated Foley Field.  Beginning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house, the festivities will culminate with the unveiling of a specially designed 9-11 Memorial. 

“The new 9-11 Memorial—fashioned from a piece of World Trade Center steel, will be nestled between the flag park and the score board on the north side of the field,” said Mary Shaughnessy, Bloomfield BOE President.  She noted that the Memorial was “procured by Superintendent Jason Bing and First Responder Charlie Giles, the steel memorial was transported to Foley Field by local landscaper Marty O’Boyle, who has also contributed shrubbery and flowers for the field. 

The main event, however, said Shaughnessy is the long-anticipated opening night of the Bengal football season on Friday night.  Kicking off with a 6:30 performance by the Belleville marching band, the Bengals will face the Belleville Buccaneers at 7:00 pm, for the Bengals home game since the stands were shut down two years ago.  

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Members of the 1973 State Championship Bengal football team will serve as honorary captains and accompany this year’s Bengal captains to midfield where Frank “The Trip” Tripucka—Bloomfield’s greatest living football player—will do the coin toss. 

The renovated stadium features a brand new synthetic turf football/soccer field, a triple jump/long jump pit, discus-throwing and pole-vaulting venues as well as an eight-lane, Olympic-size all-weather track.  These new facilities will enable Bloomfield to host state, regional and national meets. 

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Robert Pascal Flag Park, donated by former Bengal and Duke football All-American Bob Pascal (Class of ’51), features a new crimson-colored scoreboard, courtesy of the John I. Crecco Foundation, as well as new fencing and lighting for night events. 

Shaughnessy notes that the field house now has a fresh coat of crimson paint, thanks to Bloomfield High School senior John Wiley, who wrangled a crew of volunteers and paint donated from Bloomfield Avenue's Sherwin-Williams store to help earn his Eagle Scout badge. 

Phase 1 of the Foley renovation was funded by a $2.9 million referendum, which also covered the cost of bleacher demolition and removal, a new drainage system and the installation of plumbing, gas and electric utilities. 

Phase 2, scheduled for completion by fall 2012, will be funded in large part by a $900,000 Green Acres grant to build permanent bleachers, restrooms and a concession stand. 

The entrance fee for the Sept. 9 home game is $3 for adults, $1 for students; refreshments will be provided by the William Foley League and Rita’s Ice.  Gates open at five.  A large crowd is anticipated and seating will be limited so fans are invited to bring lawn chairs to set up on the new walkway that now encircles the playing field. 

For more information, contact Steven Jenkins: 

 sjenkins@bloomfield.k12.nj.us or call 973-680-8652.

 


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