Vernon Murphy to build new field

Will lease lot from Springfield Twp.

The Vernon Murphy Baseball and Softball leagues will lease a 3.18 acre lot from Springfield Twp. and plans to build a new field to accommodate steady growth.

While many local youth baseball leagues are seeing a drop in participation, causing some to disband, Vernon Murphy is experiencing just the opposite. In four years, the league has doubled its number of players to about 500 and has 41 teams this year.

League games have always been played on three fields at the Vernon Murphy complex, off of Hillside Avenue. Now, the vacant lot owned by Springfield Twp. adjacent to the field will be turned into another field.

“The price to rent the parcel is $13 a year, renewable yearly,” said Springfield Twp. Vice President Tim Foley. “It’s actually the yearly tax for the land, which it’s a win, win for everyone.”

Additional conditions to rent the land are that it is used for baseball purposes only and that the league will maintain the property.

The league will also have to rent fields from National Trails Parks and Recreation — at Davey Moore Park, Lagonda Field and Selma Road Park — to help accommodate its growth.

The new field won’t see much activity until the season is over, which will be sometime around July. Once construction starts, the space will be developed into a multi-purpose playing field for all age groups.

“The toughest problem with the growth is having enough volunteers,” said Rich Rhodes, the Vernon Murphy Baseball and Softball president.

The league opened its season earlier this month with Foley throwing out the first pitch.

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