Springfield commissioners compromise on Wyndmoor parks
After several months of discussion, the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 Wednesday to add a new athletic field to Veterans Park, Wyndmoor, and retain nearby Wyndhill Park for passive recreation.
“It was the general consensus of the parties [involved in discussion] to make modifications at Veterans Park,” Commissioner Alison Peirce said. “The renovations include the removal of the hockey rink, minor field regarding, installation of temporary goals and netting, and the purchase of a portable watering system for the new fields and [existing] baseball fields.”
The two clubs that will use the new field, Springfield Soccer Club and Spartan Girls’ Lacrosse Club, will pay for a majority of the modifications, while the township will provide the goals and netting and a portion of the funds needed for the new watering system.
“Thank you to the clubs for picking that up so the cost to the taxpayer is nothing,” board President Jeff Harbison said.
The quest for the best field location began when the Springfield Soccer Club and Spartan Girls’ Lacrosse Club determined they needed more space to accommodate their expanding programs. For months, the board, the club coaches and a group of concerned neighbors near Wyndhill Park have been trying to find the best solution for all parties.
Wyndmoor resident Don Lewis attended the meeting to remind the board that he and a large group of community members have been and remain opposed to the placement of a field in Wyndhill Park.
Reiterating the group’s objections, Lewis said having an athletic field there would cause traffic problems, ruin a longstanding passive park and decrease property values.
“It’s a very positive asset to our community,” Lewis said. “A hundred and twenty people in our community joined together in a petition to the board to not grade that field and look elsewhere.”
Commissioner Bob Gillies cast the only dissenting vote, arguing that Wyndhill Park is the superior option for multiple reasons. He cited approved permits from 2006-2009 that allowed for athletic activity at the park, and he took issue with statements from several Wyndmoor residents that Wyndhill has been a passive use park for multiple generations.
Gillies also said he believes there will be more traffic issues at Veterans Park, since many people attend the baseball games there, and that overall parking and access to the fields would be easier at Wyndhill.
There will also be a higher carbon footprint when altering Veterans Park as opposed to Wyndhill because the modifications will take longer at Veterans, Gilles said.
“I’m trying to give them the safest place to play sports, that’s all,” he said.
Commissioner Jim Dailey asked to amend the motion to allow parks and recreation Director Charles Carabba to use Wyndhill Park, if he needed to, for four hours once a week during certain sport seasons.
“I still feel that Wyndhill Park is one of the recreational parks, and I feel that with at least four hours a day, that would give our parks and recreation director the autonomy he needs,” Dailey said. “That if he has an overflow, he can have access to Wyndhill Park.”
Township Manager Don Berger said the motion on the table did not put any constraints on Carabba, and nothing would stop anyone from setting up an informal practice at Wyndhill. He also said Carabba would not put any organized team practices there to begin with.
The board declined to adopt the amendment.
Both before and after the vote, commissioners thanked those involved for their cooperation.
“The first choice was actually Veterans Park, as Charlie [Carabba] explained to me,” Harbison said. “I think this is a win-win for everybody. It benefits the clubs, neighbors and township. I want to thank the clubs and neighbors for working toward what I think is a good solution.”