Caldwell and West Caldwell mayors and council members, as well as other representatives from the two communities, joined Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. at the entrance to the new field at the Kiwanis Oval in Caldwell Wednesday night for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The ceremony marked the realization of a project that began as a dream five years ago–to create a world-class, multi-use facility that would be used by many groups from Caldwell and West Caldwell and would be an attraction to the community.

The $1.9 million project was funded jointly by Caldwell and West Caldwell, along with open space funding from Essex County. Agreements are also being finalized which would provide additional funding from Caldwell College and a corporate sponsor, Calandra's.

"What a beautiful, beautiful field. We have worked very hard. It's been a number of years. I want to thank everyone involved. It's been a long experience, it's been a wonderful experience," said Caldwell Mayor Susan Gartland.

"The county executive kept his word, made a promise to Caldwell and West Caldwell that we would have a field. The joint workings between Caldwell and West Caldwell have been terrific," the mayor continued. "Our recreation department, everyone's input, our contractor has come through in the nick of time. It's been an outstanding project and it is now completed, ready for groups/clubs to play on this field."

Lake Hiawatha-based Applied Landscape Technologies was the contractor for the project, and Birdsall Services Group served as the engineering firm overseeing the project. Groundbreaking took place in mid-June and was completed in early October, about three weeks behind schedule due to many days of rain that affected the ability to install the turf field and move ahead with final steps.

"For me this is a dream come true," said West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta.

"When Joe DiVincenzo came through with the $450,000 stimulus a year-and-a-half, two years ago," Mayor Tempesta said "that's what really I think took us over the top."

Some of the clubs that will play on the baseball field and football/soccer/lacrosse field are the Caldwell Athletic Club, the Association of Junior Chiefs, the Caldwell/West Caldwell Soccer Club, the CWC Lacrosse Club, as well as teams from the West Caldwell-Caldwell Recreation Department.

"Most importantly we are happiest for the kids," Mayor Tempesta said. "Enjoy it. I hope you have a lot of fun on it and have some great games on it and that's what it's all about."

Before passing the microphone to the county executive, the West Caldwell mayor added, "Good government transcends partisan politics and I think this is what you see when that happens."

Joseph DiVincenzo, a champion of parks and recreational facilities for Essex County, said, "Any time we can cut a ribbon for a recreation facility, I have to tell you it makes me happy. And there's no question this is long overdue."

DiVincenzo added, "I have to congratulate Mayor Gartland and her council and Mayor Joe Tempesta and his council for coming together, and really they're the ones that made this happen. The county was just a partner. This should happen in more neighborhoods, just like this."

Construction of the multi-use, turf field is for the most part complete and the field was used Wednesday evening for the first time by West Caldwell-Caldwell Recreation middle school girls soccer teams, who played at 6:15 and 7:30 p.m.

What's remaining are the finishing touches on an agreement with Caldwell College. The college is expected to agree to pay $200,000 over the next 10 years for use of the field. The NCAA-compliant field would be used for the school's baseball team to practice and play home games.

With Caldwell College's confirmed participation in the project, the Calandra Family, which owns Calandra's Italian Village on property adjacent to the field, is expected to commit to a $200,000 corporate sponsorship. New steps from the field lead up to the parking lot of Calandra's Italian Village. As part of the agreement, the field would be named the "Calandra's Field at the Kiwanis Oval."

"[Calandra's sponsorship] is contingent upon Caldwell College signing the contract, but we're pretty close," said Mayor Gartland.

Robert N. Davison, a resident of West Caldwell, came to the ribbon cutting as a proud citizen.

"I think it's an incredible thing and it certainly is in the best interest of the children, giving them more opportunities to participate in productive activities," said Davison.

Davison said his son, Ian, is an eighth grader on the Junior Chiefs football team who will play at the Kiwanis Oval field on Saturday evening.

"Him and his friends are so excited they are about to burst," Davison said.