Springdale plans to issue survey on future of Vets Field; potential changes to come next year

Springdale Manager Terry Carcella said he doubts football will ever be played at Veterans Memorial Field again.

But borough officials plan to collect community feedback on what residents would like to see at the site ahead of potential changes next year.

About two dozen residents came together last week for the first public hearing on the site’s future. There, attendees discussed ideas including the construction of splash pads, water features common in many city parks, and community pavilions, Carcella said.

“It was a lot of good discussion,” he said.

Still, a previously formed five-member committee, appointed by Springdale Council to study the park’s fate, wants to gather more input before it issues its report to council later this year, the manager said.

That will likely involve future public meetings and an online and paper survey available to residents, Carcella said. The committee, he said, will meet at least two more times before the end of the year.

Potential construction or demolition at the site could come as soon as next year, he said.

Crews recently finished the installation of a new dek hockey rink and pickleball courts near the complex’s playground area after the borough received a $53,000 donation from LS Power, the company that owns the Springdale Power Station.

Council also approved the use of the field by Lower Valley Little League’s 120 youth athletes for their games and practices starting next season.

The field has been mostly unused since 2023 after unsuccessful lease negotiations between the borough and Allegheny Valley School District, which played football at the site for more than 80 years. Talks seemed to fall through as the two bodies discussed potential financial responsibility to repair a leaning wall at the site along Lincoln Avenue.

In the meantime, the district recently completed a new turf field near Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School to serve as a home field for its football, soccer, and track and field teams.

Carcella said discussions would continue with the district regarding the wall and potential removal of stadium amenities.