Boro Picks N.Y. Firm to Build Madison Recreation Complex Turf Fields

Madison’s Borough Council plans to award the contract for the Madison Recreation Complex synthetic turf fields project to The Landtek Group, Inc. of Amityville, N.Y., according to the agenda for the council’s Monday night meeting posted online over the weekend.

The contractor submitted the second-lowest among 11 bids for the project, the first phase in development of the 49-acre Madison Recreation Complex, by the May 11 deadline. Landtek’s bid was $2,693,000.00, along with alternate bids of $629,000.00 and $76,000.00.

The borough originally estimated the cost of the 10-acre project adjacent to at $3.5 million. Construction will be financed through short-term bonds, user fees, grants, private donations and sponsorships.

State local contracts law requires alternate bids to be ranked in order of priority. The MRC bids include a base bid, plus two alternates, one for lights and the other for miscellaneous equipment such as bleachers, back stops, and other items. If the funds budgeted allow, the base bid and alternates can be awarded. The town doesn't have to award the alternates, but it can't skip over Alternate 1 and award Alternate 2.

“This selection wasn’t based solely on cost,” said councilman Don Links, in an interview. “The selection was based on the contractor’s experience in installing artificial turf fields.”

According to information on its website, Landtek has handled sports field projects for Columbia University, St. John's University, Adelphi, C.W. Post , and Hofstra, as well as Citi Field, home of Major League Baseball's Mets; the new Meadowlands Stadium, home of the NFL's Giants and Jets, and Red Bulls Arena of Major League Soccer.

The turf fields project has attracted its share of critics, who have called for a number of changes in the original plan formulated by the borough.

Links said that all changes or adjustments have been incorporated into the plan, and that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, construction will proceed without any further modifications.

He was optimistic that groundbreaking could begin in a matter of weeks but could not say when the project would be completed.

The Council meets Monday night at 8 p.m. at Hartley Dodge Memorial Municipal Complex.