North Edison Shamrock Field: Edison’s Ghostly Gridiron

Tucked away in North Edison, Shamrock Field is like a scene from a post-apocalyptic sports movie. It’s totally deserted, the bleachers are a jungle of weeds and saplings. There’s an old, beat-up blocking sled just rotting away in the corner.

The field itself is a mess. It’s clear no one’s planned on doing anything with it, and nature’s taking over. The bleachers, where fans used to cheer, are now home to some seriously determined plants. The concrete is cracked, the metal is rusty, and it’s all a bit spooky. That old blocking sled, a leftover from who-knows-when, is just sitting there, falling apart bit by bit. It’s like a sad reminder of what this place used to be.

But Shamrock Field isn’t completely dead. A football team from out of town still uses it for practice. It’s kind of weird seeing them out there, their cleats digging into the overgrown grass. Their voices echoing in the emptiness. It’s like a little spark of life in a forgotten place.

Seeing Shamrock Field like this is kind of depressing. It makes you think about how things change, even the places that were once important to a community. It’s a reminder that we need to take care of our shared spaces, the places where we come together and play.

Oddly, the Edison Township Council allocated $6,263 to the North Edison Athletic Association in December 2023, seemingly designated for a North Edison football program. This funding is peculiar considering the North Edison Shamrocks, the local football team, have been defunct since December 2018, as their own Facebook page indicates.

The decision raises questions about the township’s allocation of funds and their awareness of local sports organizations. While South Edison enjoys a significant influx of funds with $5.4 million earmarked for soccer fields. Another $11.2 million for a sports building, and $4.2 million for turf fields, North Edison appears to have been overlooked in this wave of investment. This stark contrast in funding allocations between the two areas raises concerns about equitable resource distribution within the township. The lack of any financial support directed towards North Edison’s sports facilities or programs leaves residents feeling neglected and questioning the priorities of the local government.