In New Jersey, Summer is for baseball. Little League games and playoffs are taking place across the state. Early August marks state championships for Little League players, but not all baseball fields are approved to accommodate these tournaments. In order to host a championship game, the field needs to be certified by strict Little League standards including pitching distance, base paths, outfield fence, pitcher’s mound and more.
In the Borough of Cresskill, late Mayor Benedict Romeo had dreamed of hosting Little League tournaments on his local baseball fields. He wanted his municipality to host the games for the young players, but the existing Merritt field was not compliant. Partnering with Colliers Engineering & Design, Cresskill saw this field of dreams come true.
A New Vision
When municipalities evaluate the logistics and financial considerations required to upgrade a baseball field, the conversation quickly moves beyond the playing surface itself. A successful baseball field renovation requires a holistic approach to civil/site engineering, stormwater management, and specialized athletic facility design. To meet regional tournament standards and improve overall playability, the municipality transitioned from natural grass to a highly durable synthetic turf field.
Colliers Engineering & Design’s Municipal team collaborated with Cresskill to upgrade the existing 46/60 sized baseball field to meet the standards set by Little League. A new synthetic turf field was designed and installed. Other upgrades to the facilities included new sports field lighting, asphalt parking lot and a stormwater management system. Additional work included curbing, fencing, drainage system and electrical utility upgrades. All the upgrades were done with the purpose of setting the field up to host a regional Little League Tournament.
Additional services provided included topographic and boundary survey, preparation of plans, specifications and estimates. They also provided construction administration and construction observation services throughout to keep the project within regulations.
The project was officially completed in 2019, and the local Little League team, the Cresskill Alpines, began to use it immediately.
The Game Today
It wasn’t until this season that the Cresskill team reached the champion playoffs and was able to use their home field as the tournament home. In conjunction with NJ Little League District 4, Merritt/Creston field hosted the 2026 New Jersey Little League Baseball Joe Graziano State Championships at the newly renovated field for the first time. With the Cresskill team making it so far in the game this year, the updated field was finally eligible to host the League’s regional tournament. Current Mayor John Morgan, MD, welcomed four teams in an opening ceremony, seeing late Mayor Romeo’s dream come to life.
The four teams playing included Cresskill, Bayonne, Nottingham (Hamilton Square), and Blackwood. Ultimately, Bayonne’s team took home the title, advancing to the Metro Region Tournament in Bristol, Connecticut. Bayonne once again took home the Metro title, advancing to the Little League World Series for the first time ever.
Today, the upgraded baseball field stands as a testament to what strategic municipal planning and expert engineering can achieve. By investing in resilient, modern infrastructure, Cresskill has not only elevated its local recreational offerings but has also cemented its position as a premier destination for Little League New Jersey events. The project highlights how targeted facility upgrades can transform community spaces, honor local legacies and provide safe, high-quality environments for the next generation of athletes.