Residents voice displeasure over lack of upkeep at Cribbs Field in Verona

Like many residents of Oakmont and Verona, Colin Wiehagen would like to know what is going on with Cribbs Field.

Wiehagen, an Oakmont resident who works in Verona, has children who use the fields for baseball and softball. The fields, where some of his fondest memories were made, have seen better days, he said.

While the fields are open for games, there is refurbishment that needs to be done, particularly the restoration of the infields, which have grass growing throughout them.

“It’s a shame that they are treating it like this,” he said.

Cribbs Field is Verona’s largest park, located off Second Street and South Avenue. It features baseball fields, batting cages, playgrounds, a pavilion, basketball courts and other amenities.

In March, the field was closed for about a week, causing some residents to voice concerns about the closure.

Verona Councilman Vincent Flotta, president of the borough’s parks and recreation board, said the extreme amounts of rain since February wreaked havoc on the fields, which he said were still swampy until recent weeks.

Wiehagen estimates about 200 kids between Oakmont and Verona use the field. He said the baseball diamonds have wear and tear, and the overgrown grass is in need of herbicide and new infield materials to allow for better drainage.

Borough Manager Stefanie Woolford said playgrounds, basketball courts and pickleball courts are open at all parks during regular park hours, while grass fields and baseball diamonds are closed during the winter unless previously approved by the borough.

“It rained a lot this season, and the only thing that was closed were the baseball fields,” Woolford said. “We strive to ensure our parks are open as much as possible. The field does not have good drainage, and sometimes it necessitates closure.

“I understand that people don’t always grasp that, but we aim to ensure it can be opened and not need frequent repairs.”

Verona Mayor David Ricupero did not respond to a request to comment.

Flotta, who also serves as a board member of the Lower Valley Athletic Association, which uses the fields, said there is a field maintenance contract dating back to 2018 between the borough and the Riverview Athletic Association, which also uses the fields. According to that contract, the RAA is supposed to handle the infield maintenance, he said.

“The borough of Verona is basically not allowed to touch the infields and baseball diamond because of that contract,” Flotta said.

According to Flotta, a new contract proposal was submitted by the RAA a few weeks ago, but negotiations are needed since it included items not in the old contract. Some examples include the RAA not paying any fees for the next 10 years, having keys to the field and paying no fees associated with the concession stand.

Flotta said he is not sure it would be financially responsible for the borough to agree to those terms.

The Lower Valley Athletic Association pays fees to use the field.

“We could not sign a contract after only having it for two days,” Flotta said. “We have until 2026 until the old contract runs out. In those two years, we will iron out a new agreement.

“I would recommend that the RAA holds up their end of the contract and maintains the fields like they are supposed to. That’s one of the reasons the fields are in disrepair.”

The Riverview Athletic Association is a nonprofit organization which provides sports programs for residents of Oakmont and Verona. The association was willing to make a $25,000 donation to redo the fields in lieu of paying rent for using the fields for games, according to RAA President Jeff Barton.

The borough was not receptive, he said.

“We have been trying to work with Verona Council since the end of March to come to a revised agreement on how to repair Cribbs Field,” Barton said.

“The RAA has committed to supplying all the funds, materials and labor to get the job done. We’ve been working with them, but it has been taking a long time to come to an agreement.”

Like Wiehagen, Ashten Farah of Verona is disheartened by the state of the fields.

Farah, the mother of a 6-year-old, centered her yearlong search for a home two years ago around finding what she considered the perfect location: a house between the elementary school and the park.

“It’s for everyone,” Farah said. “I will go after work or even at the end of the day and sit at the pavilion while my kid is playing. It’s just sometimes arbitrarily closed.”

“It seems like (the decisions are) in the hands of a couple of people, and it is not in the best interest of taxpayers. If there was more transparency, people would be a little less frustrated. We just want to know what is going on.”