From famine to feast

More improvements are on the horizon at Lower Moreland Township’s Valley Center Park

By Matt Schickling
Wire Staff Writer

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MATT SCHICKLING / WIRE PHOTO Lower Moreland school district and township along with Huntingdon Valley Athletic Association contributed towards a synthetic multi-sport field to Valley Center Park. The field is properly suited for PIAA, NCAA and FIFA matches. The artificial surface, FieldTurf Revolution, is the same used by Major League Soccer clubs.[/caption]

Lower Moreland Township doesn’t play games when it comes to the construction of its recreational facilities.

Last August, the township introduced a synthetic multi-sport field to the 31-acre Valley Center Park located adjacent to Lower Moreland High School (LMHS). Now, they’re looking to expand its appeal, while earning the township some extra revenue.

“We never dreamed that we would have a field like this,” said Brad Sorkin, soccer director for the Huntingdon Valley Athletic Association (HVAA) and the assistant coach for the LMHS girls team. “The township commissioners came up with a really good plan that HVAA, the school and the township could come together on.”

Each contributed funds directly to the construction of the field. The school district put up $425,000, which the township matched and HVAA contributed $100,000.

“It’s the only full-size soccer field owned by the township of Lower Moreland — there wasn’t one before,” Rob DeMartinis, president of the Lower Moreland Board of Directors, said.

At 90,000 square feet, with a field measuring 115 by 75 yards, it’s properly suited for PIAA, NCAA and FIFA matches. The artificial surface, a product called FieldTurf Revolution, is the same used by Major League Soccer clubs like the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers. The turf is actually more financially feasible when compared with a regular grass field.

Estimated maintenance costs for a grass field are $50,000 per year, whereas artificial surfaces require about $5,000, and they don’t get ruined by overuse or when used during or after the rain. The township also does not have to cut grass or buy fertilizer.

The field is now owned by the township, but the school district originally owned part of the land where the field was built. The school district’s three acres were sold to the township for $1, and thus began their shared using agreement.

“During the school year, the district can use it up until 5:30, after that it’s all township usage and on weekends and during the summer when school is not in session,” DeMartinis said. “HVAA is the primary sports user of the field,” but LMHS boys and girls soccer and field hockey and girls lacrosse use it regularly, as well as some physical education classes at the school.

Other available times are rented to outside clubs to bring money into the township.

One such instance is a summer soccer league made up of players from grades 8 to 12 in various area schools. The league is made up of 19 teams — 11 boys and eight girls.

“It’s supposed to be recreational — it’s high level because they’re high school kids, but it’s supposed to be for them to get a touch on the ball and get ready for their preseason camp,” Sorkin, who organized the league, said. “For the players that don’t go to overnight camp, it’s something to do.”

The league started on June 10 and will run on every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 9:30 p.m. for the following six weeks.

Apart from the on-field action, there’s projects in various stages of development that will ensure that all attendees have something to do.

“It’s a family destination, where there’s a little something for everyone,” DeMartinis said.

First, the park is handicap-accessible with an on-site parking lot, ramps leading up to the entrance and full-size handicap-accessible facilities including newly constructed restrooms and concession stand. There is also a quarter-mile walking path surrounding the field where spectators can get exercise during the games.

This summer, the township is expecting to have the rock driveway fully paved. Bidding has already started to construct a playground and pavilion surrounding the field, which should be done by the end of fall. By next summer, a half-mile nature trail will be installed through part of the 23-acre nature preserve in the park called Fairway Farm. These improvements will be funded by a $149,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which the township will match.

In addition to the township revenue, there are also public safety implications to the building of the new field.

“The field absorbs five inches of rain in an hour,” DeMartinis said. “It stops more water from going down to the valley.”

This will prevent, or at least slow, flooding on Philmont Avenue. Rainwater should instead be dispersed into the wetlands through a series of stormwater ditches, piping and retention ponds built by the contractor.

The end game, though, in all the planning, deadlines and proactive thinking is to give the community a place they can be proud of.

“Everybody wants to play here,” Sorkin said. “We have the nicest field in the area now. It’s unbelievable. We went from famine to feast.”