The Sports Association Of Oakland

Welcomes you to the home of 

Oakland Recreation 

Please use this interactive website to visit the various sports,  follow our meeting schedule, learn about our recreation program, volunteer to help and much much more.

To visit any page, please click on a sport in the list below or other information on the side banner just to the left.

"No Child will be prevented from participating in any Oakland Recreation Program due to hardship."

See Commissioner of individual sport for assistance.

Recreation News and Happenings......................

To find out more information on your child's individual activity, please visit the sport pages listed above   

Rec Stand - Is looking for volunteers to help cook/serve food during Rec games.  Please contact Mary Pille (pille4@yahoo.com).

Policies and Information can be found on the Information and Forms page (click on this side banner).

The Shade Tree Commission and Recreation Commission are completing a major tree planting project at the complex.  Thirty-Two trees are scheduled to be planted around the complex, thanks to the two commissions using shared financial resources and individual expertise.  Although these trees are immature and the first year is critical in their survival, within a couple years the Potash Recreation Complex will take on more of a park-like appearance and not just that of a sports complex.

There will be more shared service projects to be completed over the coming months involving the Recreation Commission with the numerous Oakland commissions, committees and private charitable organizations; this includes the complete remodeling of the Danny D’Elia building*.  Keep an eye out for what is going on at your recreation complex as the Recreation Commission continues to modernize and improve the infrastructure of the Oakland parks using no tax payer dollars.

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* information about the Danny D'Elia upgrades can be read a few articles down

The Sports Association of Oakland has offered to assist the borough with running the carnival. There is a lot of cooperation between the governing body and members of the SAO to continue the success of our yearly carnival. We are all excited that this Oakland tradition will continue.

The Sports Association of Oakland (the legal name) is a 501(c)3 organization that donates all it’s funds towards the Oakland sports programs and recreation complex capital projects. No individual profits from the work of this all-volunteer organization. The SAO's treasurer is a financial professional who files all tax documents and paperwork, keeping the group a legally charitable organization.

 
As always, volunteers are needed for an event of this magnitude. If anyone wishes to volunteer some time, please visit the SAO webpage by clicking here. You can reach out to any SAO Board Member and offer your assistance.

 
The SAO looks forward to working with Mayor and Council, the Fire Department, Police Department and all groups who participate in this great event. It's time for us to all move forward and put on a great carnival for Oakland!

As the Oakland Recreation Commission continues to improve our Recreation Infrastructure, the next BIG thing will be a new surface for the main playground. Out will be the cut up dirty tire pieces, in will be a new ADA compliant, colorful, clean and soft surface. The Commission, Borough and DPW chose the very safe tile surface to replace the old rubber pieces. Keep an eye on the playground as June is the target month for completion.

It is very rare for an Oakland ball field to be named after an individual.  In fact, no one can remember the last time a ball field had been named.  That all changed on Wednesday May 9, 2012.  At that night's mayor council meeting  the Oakland council unanimously voted to approve the Recreation Commission's recommendation to name field #2 after Joseph Gaul.

Many in town knew Joseph, if not by name but by face.  He could have been seen walking his dog, riding his bike, working at Stop & Shop, eating and enjoying his friends at Elm St Grill or being the team managers for the many adult softball teams at the Recreation Complex.  Whenever he was seen, Joseph always had a smile on his face.

Joseph was one of those people that lit up a room when he entered.  As a child his doctors told his family that he would never walk, but as his sister said to the mayor and council, "he not only walked, he ran and played softball"!  Joseph participated with the Special Olympics and joined the Oakland Elks club later on in an effort to give back to the Special Olympics.

Joseph was a life long resident of Oakland and an  inspiration to so many people.  His life, his legacy and his spirit are the exact reason Oakland will name a field after someone. The decision to name field 2 was a fitting choice for Joseph, as it is one of the favorite ball fields, for its shade and warmth of location.  Joseph's memory will live on at field 2 as not only his name will grace the backstop but a plaque commemorating how he lived will be errected on the first base fence.

The Oakland Recreation Commission would like to thank the council for their unwavering support of naming the field.  The Commission also recognizes Rawn Leegwater for introducing and spearheading this entire endeavour.  There will be a naming ceremony in the coming weeks.  Please check back to the recreation website for all the information.

It’s been a little over 20 years since the dedication of the Danny D’Elia building.  Over these years our epicenter of Oakland Recreation has seen a lot of activity.  It’s been the home to our sports sign-ups, snack stand and civic meetings, as well as home to many, many other events.  The Danny D, as it has been affectionately known, has done a lot for Oakland, now it’s our turn to do something not only for the building but in honor of Mr. D’Elia who is the building’s namesake.

At their April meeting, the Oakland Recreation Commission unanimously approved to pay for a brand new roof.  Construction for this project will begin this week.  Once the roof has been replaced everything else can begin.  The Oakland Mother’s Club and Oakland Father’s Club have graciously offered to reconstruct the inside of the building, including new shelving, new blinds and other much needed upgrades.  The Oakland Girl Scouts will be painting a “Peace Mural” on the side of the building (the area next to the air condition unit).  This mural will be a colorful welcome to guests of the Potash Recreation Complex.

Other upgrades will include the planting of trees around the building and complex.  The Oakland Shade Tree Commission and the Oakland Recreation Commission have entered into a joint project of planting 32 new trees in and around the complex. These trees should be planted by the end of June. 

Lastly a new playground surface will be in place by the end of June.  This will replace the old dirty ground-up tires that currently fill the playground.  The new surface will be a colorful, ADA compliant flooring that will make every child’s experience a fun and CLEAN experience.

Look for these upgrades to our recreation complex centerpiece, the Danny D’Elia Building.  A new picture will replace the one above once all the work is complete.

In order to coach Softball, Baseball or Any Sport your name must be on the approved coaches list.

The Recreation Commission will be purchasing lanyards and identification tags for all approved coaches.

All Volunteer Coaches 18 years old and older MUST comply.

This includes Rutgers Certification AND Background checks.   Please Follow Instructions Below.

 A. Rutgers Certification - Please keep an eye on this website for all upcoming Rutgers courses.  If you take the course in Oakland it is FREE.  If you take it elsewhere Oakland cannot reimburse you.   If you do take it elsewhere you must give a copy of your card to either Commission Chairman Mike Guadagnino or Recreation Secretary Lori Dent so you may be certified for Oakland. 

List of where you can take a Rutgers Course click here

B. Background Check.  Follow instructions Below for getting your background check as well as  reimbursement procedures.

*Download the Background check application by clicking here *

 INSTRUCTIONS TO COMPLETE YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK APPLICATION

 1.      YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL 8 STEPS!

2.      To register for an appointment online go to www.bioapplicant.com/nj 

a.      Fill in the boxes as follows:

3.      Click on "CONTINUE

a.      Fill in the BOXES on this page with your personal information

4.      CLICK on "CONTINUE"

a.      Check to confirm information is right, CLICK "I AGREE" BOX, then CLICK "CONTINUE"

      5.      The next page will have created your applicant ID # - VIP:  FILL IN THE APPLICANT ID  NO. In the bottom left hand side of the Sagem Morpho Application.

       6.      Next choose the fingerprinting location most convenient to you.

7.      Schedule your appointment

a.      Please make sure to arrive at least 10 minutes early or on time with your application, have proper ID and credit card or debit card for payment.    (If you fail to arrive on time or without proper ID, you could be turned away and will be charged an $11 fee.) 

8.                  VIP – FOR PAYMENT REIMBURSEMENT You must drop off your application ASAP and receipt to the Oakland Police Department and complete a voucher to receive reimbursement for the $26.25 in 4-6 weeks.  Individuals will not be reimbursed for charges related to a missed appointment.  The Police desk is open 24 hours.

*          The Recreation Approved Coach list on the website will list all Coaches who have completed the Rutger’s S.A.F.E.T.Y Certification and passed the 2011/2012 Criminal Background check.  Click here for list

NOTE:  **Coaches who have received a Grant/pre-paid background Check application must complete this process with that application.  If you've lost your application, you will be responsible for the $26.26 fee to complete this process.***

The Recreation Dept. cannot re-apply for additional grant monies in 2012 until all outstanding applications are processed which is a great cost savings to our programs!  We greatly appreciate the volunteer efforts of all our coaches and request cooperation in fullfilling the mandatory deadline of March 1st and returning your application to the Oakland Police Dept.          
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 ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN EMAIL RECSEC@OAKLAND-NJ.ORG

This is a Borough Ordinance - No Exceptions