O.B. ushers in start of work at Mannino BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer OLD BRIDGE - Township officials have stepped up to the plate on two Little League fields and other components of a pentaplex at Peter A. Mannino Park, Route 516. An Aug. 6 groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of phase one of the park development project, which will cost about $2.5 million to complete, according to Tom Badcock, township director of parks and recreation. "It was a great success, it was a pleasant evening, and we gave everyone the opportunity to get a first glimpse of what the park will be," Mayor Jim Phillips said. Phase one of the project will see the construction of two hybrid Little League fields, along with a full-service restroom and concession stand building and a 190-car parking area. The fields will come complete with full lighting and irrigation systems. They are considered hybrids because the distance between bases can be changed from 60 to 70 feet to accommodate multiple age groups, Badcock said. According to Badcock, phase one was originally slated to include the construction of the entire pentaplex, but the high cost of the project prohibited that from happening. "It's just very expensive to do," Badcock said. Though the township's parks are a high priority, Badcock said other projects in the town, such as infrastructural improvements, sometimes take precedence. Along with paring down the scope of phase one, Badcock said the town was able to glean savings for taxpayers by soliciting bids separately for the three components of the work. "The bigger the project and the more parts involved, the easier it is to build in a larger profit margin," Badcock said. "You have to sharpen your pencils a little bit as you're bidding on this thing." The contract for the site work, which is under way now, was awarded to Rencor, of Somerset, for about $1.6 million, Badcock said. Lucas Electric will handle the lighting for the fields and building at a cost of close to $500,000. The third contract, for the building construction, will likely go out to bid within the coming week, according to Badcock. Township officials had thought funding would only allow for the restroom portion of the building to be constructed in phase one, Badcock said. After bidding the portions of the work separately and receiving $500,000 in open space funds from Middlesex County, however, they found enough money was left to put up the building in its entirety. "We've received so much help to make Mannino possible," Phillips said. "This is a major expansion for Old Bridge." Councilman Kevin Calogera spoke on behalf of the council at the ceremony, and Councilman Richard Greene shared words about the Mannino family with those in attendance. County Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel and state Assemblyman Sam Thompson also came out to show their support. "This is the last hurdle we have to clear before moving forward with the YMCA," Phillips said. Badcock said bids were being received as of yesterday for the 10-acre YMCA branch site within Mannino Park. He said the aquatic center slated to be built there has been made possible through a $3 million grant from the county. The park development project should be completed in five or six phases, according to Badcock. Construction is expected to begin sometime in the fall. According to Phillips, phase one will probably be complete by spring. "You need the fields to get down and the grass to get growing," Phillips said. "Whether the grass will be ready for play by that time depends on how kind the winter is to us." The park's 168 acres, combined with 50 more donated by Norwood developers and 800 owned by the county, make up over 1,000 acres of open space at the corner of Route 516 and Jake Brown Road that will be preserved in perpetuity, Phillips said.