Councilman holds softball clinic amid Hinchliffe flap
Political dispute over access for city children
PATERSON — On its surface, the scene at Sunday’s softball clinic at Buckley Park seemed a normal part of the rhythm of summer.
Several girls waited in line to hit softballs into a practice net, while others worked on improving their fielding and throwing skills. Nearby, hot dogs and burgers sizzled on a grill as some children splashed down a portable plastic water slide.
But the girls weren’t the only ones taking swings. In Paterson fashion, the softball clinic was a manifestation of the ongoing political debate over refurbished Hinchliffe Stadium and the amount of access city children have gotten since the ballpark reopened in May.
Councilman Michael Jackson — the mayor’s most outspoken critic — said he organized the event at Buckley Park because of his frustration about Paterson youngsters being excluded from recent sports camps held at Hinchliffe.
“The stadium belongs to our kids,” Jackson said in an interview on Monday, “but it’s under lock and key.”
Mayor Andre Sayegh took exception to Jackson’s criticism, calling the councilman “a hypocrite who … continues to lie and mislead the public.”
“As has been well-documented, Hinchliffe Stadium has been a community resource for our high school teams, summer camps, cultural events, free baseball clinics and graduation ceremonies,” Sayegh said. “Mr. Jackson would know this if he bothered to attend any of the aforementioned events in support of our community.”
The renovation and reopening of the national landmark stadium were part of a $108 million project that also included the construction of a 75-apartment senior citizen building, a 315space parking garage, and a new building with a food court and museum exhibit space to pay tribute to Hinchliffe’s legacy as one of the last Negro League ballparks still standing.
As part of the publicly funded project, the developers agreed to give the Paterson school district, which owns Hinchliffe, first-priority access to the stadium for 180 days, while the private builders get the ballpark for the rest of the year.
The developers later leased the stadium during baseball season to the New Jersey Jackals minor league team in a private deal that neither side has been willing to make public. The Jackals then partnered with Nike to conduct a series of baseball and softball camps at Hinchliffe, charging $375 per week per participant.
Jackson organized Sunday’s softball clinic as an alternative to the expensive Jackals camp. “Paterson youth now have to witness children from surrounding suburban towns take possession of the historic site,” the councilman said.
He complained Monday that private businesses are making money off the publicly owned stadium. He said he has repeatedly asked for financial reports on Hinchliffe, but never received any.
The leader of the Hinchliffe development team, Baye Adofo-Wilson, said the developers do not get a share of the sports camp revenue. Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, Paterson’s recreation coordinator, said the private sports camps at Hinchliffe became a public relations problem for the Jackals.
“I think the Jackals have learned their lesson from this experience,” Wimberly said. “I don’t think you’ll see any more of these camps without an invite to Paterson kids.” The Jackals’ camps didn’t prohibit Paterson youngsters from participating. But Wimberly said the fee may have prevented some from signing up. He said other camps have reduced fees for low-income youths. Going forward, Wimberly said, he would like to see the city’s Recreation Division get access to Hinchliffe for its local youth football, soccer and baseball programs.