Having lived in Allendale since 1965 when my parents bought a house in a development on the north side of town, I have seen the town grow to what it is today.
1965 was a big year for Allendale. Northern Highlands Regional High School (NHRHS) was completed and the first classes started in September. The residents approved the site of the new elementary school(Hillside School) and the town approved the sewer ordinance. However, my earliest memories of the town are of the Allendale Ball Field. That's what I remember calling it. Some say the real name is Recreation Park, but regardless, it sits at the corner of Crescent Ave and Allendale Ave across for Crestwood Lake and next to Brookside School.
The landmark of the Ball Field is the Grand Stand. It stands regally over the major league diamond on the first base foul line. The grand stand was revitalized recently in the 2000's by the Allendale Recreation Commission & the Holiday Observers and painted by the local Boy Scouts to give it its look as it is today. From what I can remember it was first built in 1915 and then in 1935 it was replaced. Over the years it has always served as the diamond for the next level of organized baseball after little league(13- 15 year old boys). There were also semi-professional baseball teams playing there in the 30's and 40's and in the 1970's I remember watching the Allendale Highlanders play in the Metro league. Jim Bouton, the retired Yankee pitcher and Author of the book "Ball Four" pitched for the Merchants of the same league at that time.
View to Left Field View to Center Field
Two little league or softball fields are also on the same field, one in the far reaches of left field and the other way out in right center from the "big diamond". Today deep right field holds a concession stand that is manned by the parents of the players during Allendale Recreation Commission league play. In my day back in the late sixties and early seventies, that area of the concession stand and park parking lot was the Allendale pool. A long shot to deep left from Field Number Two as a little leaguer could put one over the pool fence. 
In the grassy knoll behind where the big willow once stood, there are horseshoe pits used mostly on the 4th of July for the Holiday Observers Men's Horseshoe Tournament.
Over the years the Ball Field has declined as the center of attention for many activities in Allendale. In 1972 Crestwood Lake was purchased by the town and little by little more functions were moved to Crestwood. More baseball diamonds were added at Crestwood. The annual fireworks once held at the ball field was moved to Crestwood which is a much safer area for that venue. Eventually, the Allendale pool was filled in as Crestwood Lake became the town's main swimming hole.
There are still some signs of the asphalt road that used to circle the ball field. I remember, it was 1/3 of a mile around. We used to have to jog it in gym class. The field has many memories for me and I am sure for many older and younger Allendale ball players. I hit my first home runs there, no fences, you had to run them all out. We played football, soccer and tossed Frisbee on the ball field. Today, it is still being used for many sports. My son is only three years old so I don't know the exact schedule of use but as I drive by I see baseball games, soccer games and gym classes occupying its green grass.
The Allendale DPW still does an amazing job of upkeep to the field manicuring the diamonds each spring and after the rain falls to keep play on schedule. I do understand some money has been allocated from the town this year (2007) to upgrade the fields. It seems the same areas which accumulated puddles 40 years ago will soon be fixed.
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