After more than a decade of planning and construction, the city is preparing for the grand opening next month of its largest municipal park.

The $35 million, 17-acre Berry Lane Park -- located on Garfield Avenue at the former PPG Industries site -- is designed as a recreational facility for residents of all ages.

Last month, The Jersey Journal and city officials toured the new facility, which includes a full-size baseball field, full-length football and soccer fields, two tennis courts and two basketball courts. Old coal silos sit across from the baseball diamond.

"It's been over a decade in the making," Mayor Steve Fulop said as he toured the park. "We've aggregated a lot of dollars from different resources in order to make this a priority and get it done."

Along with the playing fields, the facility also includes a safety-tiled playground, spray park and adult fitness area. A skate park and pavilion area are planned for a second phase of the project, which Ben Delisle, director of development for the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, said the city hopes will be complete by year's end.

"This will be the premier park in the entire city when it's done," Delisle said.

With restrooms planned for the pavilion, "temporary facilities" will be brought into the park for use until construction is complete, officials said.

Councilman-at-large Daniel Rivera -- who has worked with the city's baseball programs for years -- stood near first base of the new ballfield for a few minutes to reflect on how important the new space is for the city.

"We need this," Rivera said. "Throughout the city we only have a few ... fields (with 90-foot basepaths and 60-foot, 6-inch mounds) and the amount of kids, boys and girls, playing exceeds a lot."

With the new playing fields designed for athletes ages 13 through college, Rivera said, the park was "structurally placed perfectly" to meet the needs of residents, especially those on the city's south side who play sports.

Of the $35 million that has been used to build the park, 26 percent of that money has come through private funds, which includes money from the PPG chromium cleanup. Additionally, 32 percent of the project was federally funded, 11 percent was funded through state grants, 16 percent through county grants, and the remaining 15 percent -- or $5.25 million -- was paid for with city money, according to Delisle.

"So, for every dollar spent here on average the city spent 15 cents," Delisle said. "That's a pretty good deal."

Delisle said 635 trees have been planted while Fulop noted the city's open space will increase by more than 10 percent with the park's completion.

Some residents still fear the land has not been properly cleaned and expressed their contamination concerns most recently at a March 29 meeting with newly appointed site administrator Ronald J. Riccio.

The former dean of Seton Hall Law School went as far to say he would allow his grandchildren to play in the park without worrying.

Fulop said he does not think "any of those concerns have any merit."

"The city takes the cleanup very seriously. We have a good track record on that," he said. "We wouldn't allow residents to be in an area that is contaminated or unsafe."

A ribbon-cutting and family day for the park's grand opening, with food, music and activities planned for children, is scheduled for June 4.