By: Lauren T. Agnew
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that a project to create the Ronald L. Rice Sports Complex in Essex County Vailsburg Park in Newark was completed on Friday, January 27th.
Named for the retired State Senator from the 28th Legislative District, the modern facilities at the complex will be the home fields for the Essex County Schools of Technology athletic teams as well as be open to the public.
The project is part of the County Executive's ongoing initiative to revitalize the Essex County Parks System and provide up-to-date recreation facilities that meet the community's changing needs.
"The upgrades in Vailsburg Park will provide our student-athletes from the Essex County Donald Payne School and our Schools of Technology District with modern facilities to practice and play their games as well as to give youth recreation, local sports programs and residents of all ages with state-of-the-art fields to use," DiVincenzo said.
"I want to thank our Schools of Technology District for partnering with us to make these improvements. This complex is an example of what we can accomplish to benefit our students and the community when we combine our resources," he added.
"Naming this sports complex after Senator Rice is the right thing to do. Ron has been a strong and tireless advocate for his constituents, the City of Newark and Essex County.
He was a trailblazer and icon who shined the light on inequality and injustice and did not compromise his ideals or principles," DiVincenzo said.
"We have named buildings and fields after people who made a positive difference in our community and Ron definitely is one of those people. To name this sports complex in the heart of his district is a fitting and lasting tribute," he added.
Joining the County Executive at the ribbon cutting were Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, State Senators Renee Burgess and Nia Gill, Assembly members Eliana Pintor Marin, Ralph Caputo, Cleopatra Tucker, Tom Giblin, Britnee Timberlake and Mila Jasey, Commissioner President Wayne Richardson, Commissioner Vice President Carlos Pomares, Commissioners Rufus Johnson, Patricia Sebold and Brendan Gill, Sheriff Armando Fontoura and Register Juan Rivera.
After representing the 28th Legislative District for 35 years, Senator Rice announced his retirement in August. On October 14th, DiVincenzo dedicated the sports complex in Rice's honor. Rice is the longest-serving Black lawmaker in New Jersey history and previously served 18 years as Chairman of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus.
Rice has been a strong advocate for social justice issues and supported the construction of recreational facilities in urban areas to lift blighted communities.
He backed clean energy for neighborhoods planted atop Superfund sites and was a torchbearer for boosting diversity in law enforcement.
Before being elected as a State Senator, he was Deputy Mayor of Newark for four years, a Newark City Councilman for 16 years, a Newark Police Detective for eight years and served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of Sergeant.
The project included replacing four Little League baseball fields with a football/soccer field, rubberized running track, baseball field, Little League/softball field and a basketball court.
The football/soccer field, baseball field and softball field have synthetic grass surfaces and sports lighting to maximize the use of the facilities. The fields have sports lighting and benches for spectators.
In addition, the wrought iron fence along the Oraton Parkway side of the park was moved in about eight feet and a new sidewalk and guardrail were installed to enhance pedestrian safety.
French and Parrello from Wall received a professional services contract to design the park improvements.
Applied Landscape Technologies from Montville was awarded a publicly bid contract for $7,541,723 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project to avoid delays.
The improvements were funded through the Essex County Capital Budget with a $3.5 million grant from the Essex County Schools of Technology District. Work started in May 2022 and was completed in just seven months.
Revitalizing Essex County Vailsburg Park
The playground was modernized with new equipment and a rubberized safety surface and the restroom building by the playground was renovated in 2019.
The senior building received a comprehensive facelift in 2016. The six Little League baseball fields were upgraded and a synthetic grass surface was installed on one field near South Munn Avenue and Plymouth Street in 2007.
In addition, decorative lighting was installed, park entrances were enhanced, ornamental fencing was installed around the park's perimeter, and tree maintenance was performed. In 2003, new equipment and a rubberized safety surface were installed in the playground.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States.
The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres. It has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, an ice skating rink, a roller skating rink, three public golf courses, a golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.
Vailsburg Park is 30.32 acres and is the 10th largest park within the Essex County Park System. Land for the park was purchased in 1917 and significant design improvements were completed in the 1920s.