Letter to Board of Commissioners from Soccer Club

Springfield Soccer Club

April 30, 2011

Springfield Township
Board of Commissioners
1510 Paper Mill Rd
Wyndmoor, PA 19038

RE: Springfield Soccer Club - Wyndhill Park

Dear Board:

The Springfield Soccer Club (SSC) is expressing their interests to the Springfield Township, as discussed with Mr. Charlie Carabba and Mr. Robert Gilles, to place an 8 v 8 soccer field at Wyndhill Park behind the tennis courts which currently stands as an open land park. Placing a field in this area would not affect the present playground nor affect other Parks and Recreation Programs. It is the intent for SSC to share participation in the construction costs to resurface and to prepare for a new field.

SSC currently uses Bysher Field in Flourtown for the 8 v 8 soccer program. This field is currently located partially in the outfield and infield of the softball field. SSC currently shares this field with other Parks and Recreation programs, St Genevieve's sports programs, and other permitted leagues. The field conditions by use of all these programs have degraded the field due to the excessive wear and tear. To help maintain the field for all the community, SSC has participated in the costs to fix and repair this field annually for the township. Like Bysher Field, SSC also participates annually in the field repair costs at Laurel Beech Park and has also paid for the installed field irrigation system.

In an effort to reduce the wear and tear at Bysher Park and to also return the park to a primarily baseball and softball park, we formally request the board consider moving the 8 v 8 soccer field to Wyndhill Park. This field at Wyndhill Park will give SSC the space needed to run the program and possibly install the soccer goals on a more permanent basis. At this time, we share space with the township to store our portable goals, nets, and liner in the township's storage facility at Bysher Park. During the season, FELL has been kind enough to open their storage shed for us, so our SSC coaches can access flags and liners on game days. Having this field will alleviate the township's burden of storing our soccer equipment in the "Off Season" and eliminate our need to burden FELL when we are "In Season". As previously mentioned, our intentions are to participate in the costs to convert the field.

We would be happy to discuss this issue in further detail and hope this goal can be achieved starting this Fall 20 11 soccer season.

Respectfully submitted,
Steven G. Griet
Springfield Soccer Club Vice President