March is prepared to leave like a lion, with cold windy rain and the threat of snow. But by Sunday the sun should be out in full to welcome the official opening day of Sloatsburg’s Community Fields. Throughout the winter months, the once flooded fields have been cleaned of debris and lovingly restored in preparation for spring league play and outdoor enthusiasts.
Supervisor of Sloatsburg Public Works Mike DeMartino said he expects a full docket for Sunday, April 1. “The fields are already booked from 8 to 11 a.m.,” he said, adding that opening day is usually packed with people throughout the day. DeMartino said that the two ball diamonds are used for league play throughout the spring and summer that includes baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer leagues.
One ball diamond has been reclayed for the start of the season but the other field will have to wait until Monday to get its new coat. Nat Nuovo, owner of Field Pro Enterprises in Monroe, New York, was at the field early Friday morning with his son, waiting for the final shipment of clay to groom the second ball field. But Nuovo got bad news from Windsor Soil dispatch, out of Jackson, New Jersey. The Town of Ramapo just happened to be in the order cue ahead of him and the five loads of brown clay were going to Herb Reisman Sports Complex in Pomona.
Nuova, whose Field Pro athletic field specialist company has tended Sloatsburg’s fields for five years now, said the field 
will get top-coated Monday morning. Nuovo said the dirt is delivered by tractor-trailer truck and that this is certainly one of the peak load delivery times. Because of MTA repairs in and around the field in the late fall and winter, Nuovo said the decision was made to wait to groom the fields.
The good news for sports enthusiasts is that due to much-needed field restoration from Hurricane Irene flooding, the flag football field has been completely leveled and improved. Field Pro recently seeded the area and is waiting for the grass to come in.
DeMartino said another major Community Field improvement is the newly leveled gravel entry that is now bordered nicely with big boulders.
Sloatsburg Community Fields comprise 25 acres of developed recreational facilities, boasting a popular children’s playground, basketball court, two tennis courts, a roller hockey rink, a little league field, a multi-purpose softball/baseball field and regulation soccer field, and fitness walk that circles the entire field complex. An outdoor pavilion is available for residents to picnic under or to use as shaded respite from the field action. Both the pavilion and hockey rink are available for rental by contacting the village office.
For information about Sloatsburg’s Community Fields or about scheduling a field, contact the Village Office at 845-753-2727 for further information. Restrooms are available and all facilities are fully illuminated. Community Field application forms can be found here.
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