Springfield Receives County Grants of $40,000 for Irwin Park Tennis Courts and $6,000 for Trees
The Township of Springfield was recently awarded a $40,000 grant from the Union County Kids Recreation Trust Fund and a $6,000 grant from Greening Union County by the Union County Board of County Commissioners. Mayor Harris Laufer commented, "The Township very much appreciates these annual grants which go a long way toward enhancing our parks and beautifying our community."
The Township is matching the Kids Recreation Trust Fund grant with funding from a recent New Jersey Department of Community Affairs grant to finance the resurfacing of the Irwin Park tennis courts, including the conversion of one tennis court into two dedicated pickleball courts. The scope of the project -- which is expected to be undertaken in late-2026 or early-2027 -- will include addressing tennis court age and water damage, filling cracks, resurfacing the courts, painting and striping the courts, installing new posts and nets, and creating two dedicated pickleball courts. According to Adam Lieb, Director of Recreation, “When this long-awaited project is completed, within the past five years we will have renovated all of the Township's tennis courts. Improving our tennis courts and offering more opportunities for pickleball due to popular demand has been a top priority. We're really excited to open these new courts for Springfield residents to enjoy."
The Department of Public Works will use its $6,000 grant award to plant trees throughout Springfield. "I would like to thank the Greening Union County grant program for the matching grant for tree plantings within our community. Programs such as these greatly contribute to the preservation of our tree canopies which benefits all residents," said Keith Decker, the Township's Forrester.
Matching grants from the Kids Recreation Trust Fund are distributed to municipalities across Union County that are looking to upgrade or build recreational facilities for children and families. Funds from the Greening Union County grant award help the Township offset the cost of planting trees throughout Springfield. Since its inception in 2004, the Kids Recreation Trust Fund has provided Union County communities with close to $30 million in funding.
