Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. announced July 30 that the city has secured a $1.33 million grant from the Green Acres Program for improvements to Dolphin Field.
Utilizing this funding, planned Dolphin Field improvements include new turf, concession-stand and locker-room renovations, new fencing, lighting, goal posts, landscaping and ADA accessibility. This work is expected to begin later this year and is anticipated to be finished by next summer.
Previously, Hard Rock Atlantic City owner Joe Jingoli donated a new scoreboard and money for other improvements to Dolphin Field. All of these contributions will remain. In 2010, the field at Dolphin Field was replaced with FieldTurf, an artificial surface that resembles grass which, 15 years later, needs replacing again.
The city also applied for a $250,000 grant from the National Football League for additional improvements to Dolphin Field and is waiting to hear back.
“The Small Administration is once again investing in both our community and our youth,” said Mayor Small at a press conference, with players, coaches and other members of the Atlantic City Dolphins football organization looking on. “Our youth deserve this beautiful new field to play on, learn and grow. Our goal is to upgrade every single one of our facilities here in the Great City of Atlantic City, and now it’s Dolphin Field’s turn. If you think what we did with Pop Lloyd Stadium was magic, wait until you see what we’re about to do with Dolphin Field!”
The Dolphin Field news follows a trend under the Small Administration of improving recreational facilities in Atlantic City. Recently completed projects include Pop Lloyd Stadium renovations (Pop Lloyd Stadium, named after Negro League star John Henry “Pop” Lloyd, reopened on April 29 as a multipurpose sports hub), Atlantic City Aquarium renovations and upgrades to Gardner’s Basin, and a new Dog Park and resurfaced basketball and tennis courts at Altman Park.
Green Acres funding is also being used for the construction of Weekes Memorial Park on the 700 block of Indiana Avenue, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The city has also formed strong partnerships with the city’s four Community Development Corporations, the Hydrangea Trail 2.0 and nonprofit Skate AC, which are helping to activate, improve and beautify various parks. The new Uptown Skate Park at Melrose and Massachusetts avenues is scheduled to open Aug. 1.
