Politics & Government
Upper Moreland Baseball May Soon Get a ‘Field of Dreams’
In light of a stellar season, local residents want to treat Upper Moreland Baseball to a 'most ambitious project.'
Nicknamed the "Field of Dreams" project, Upper Moreland residents banded together to plan the construction of a new baseball field, in light of the school district's base ball team’s stellar season.
The team earned a 16–4 season, and went on to achieve the .
“Our baseball team this year had an excellent season,” Donald Warner, a UMSD school board member, said to the July 18 Community Development Committee. “We just felt that it was about time to give them a field they deserve for the quality of play they give—it’s nicknamed the ‘Field of Dreams.’”
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Warner said that the field’s construction will come to a zero cost for the school district, as local residents will donate all construction and subsequent maintenance.
“It’s really a blessing for the school district,” Warner said.
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Warner described the future ball field as "a most ambitious project." The current ball field, located on school property, will be disassembled and replaced with a minor-league-sized field (minus the stadium seating) that’s in compliance with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.
In an email interview, Warner said that the current baseball field on school property is unusable due to aged condition.
Warner told the committee that the project may cost between $60,000 and $75,000. He pointed out that the district will incur no cost in the field’s construction, and, based on this, the school board requested the committee waive construction and grading permits.
According to the township’s director of code enforcement Paul Purtell, such permits would cost around $200.
“I think, in cooperation between commissioners and the school district, and for the benefit of the students, we would move forward and appreciate those that are generating their time and effort to get this ball park,” Joseph Lavalle, committee chairperson and Ward 4 commissioner, said.
The team currently uses as an alternative baseball field.
Should the construction be completed, the baseball field, located on school property, would be used by both the district and township recreation.
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