WEST WINDSOR — On the weekends, dozens of cricket players fill a temporary field on Conover Park in West Windsor to play games. But now they'll have a dedicated space to call their own after council voted this month to move ahead with plans to build them a permanent cricket field. Allentown-based Viviano Construction was awarded a $260,495 contract, the money...
WEST WINDSOR -- On the weekends, dozens of cricket players fill a temporary field on Conover Park in West Windsor to play games. But now they'll have a dedicated space to call their own after council voted this month to move ahead with plans to build them a permanent cricket field.
Allentown-based Viviano Construction was awarded a $260,495 contract, the money for which will come from the township's open space tax.
"We are very ecstatic," said former Councilman Kamal Khanna, who has been part of the effort to get a field since his time on council.
The idea was first pitched 12 years ago, he said, but demand grew over the past couple of years as more families immigrated to the area from India, Pakistan and other cricket-loving countries.
"That's the only sport they know," Khanna said. "They don't know anything else."
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The field in Community Park will measure 10 feet by 90 feet and have a reinforced concrete base and artificial turf. The outfield will be regraded and an irrigation system will be installed. A second field will be built nearby for practices.
"This is about the right time for West Windsor to put a dedicated facility for a sport that is coming up," said Vineet Anand, president of the West Windsor Cricket Association.
Some 100 people play in the group's five teams and Anand anticipates that number will grow once the facility is complete.
"To have a good field, to have a good pitch is absolutely essential," he said.
In cricket, unlike baseball, when the bowlers (pitchers) release the ball, it typically bounces off the ground before reaching a batsman, Anand said.
"The surface on which the ball bounces becomes very, very important," he said.
He said group members regularly met with township officials to put in their two cents about how the field should be designed.
"When it came to critical components, they were always inquiring and asking for our opinion to the extent possible," he said.
For example, they worked with the township on getting a thinner turf that would be better for cricket and advocated for a practice field so they could limit unnecessary wear and tear on the game field, Anand said.
Khanna said the field could be built in as little as 45 to 60 days. He credits the administration, council, recreation director and WWCA with bringing the project to fruition.
"I've been following it day by day, and now we're happy that it's happening," he said.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.