New fields, amenities proposed for Bell Acres park

Quaker Valley Recreation Association officials want to turn James P. Bouchard Family Park in Bell Acres into an outdoor sports complex with new fields and amenities to benefit generations of young athletes.

The association has youth soccer, lacrosse, softball and baseball programs with about 1,700 total participants ages 2-19 each year.

Soccer and lacrosse games are played at Quaker Valley School District and Sewickley Academy fields.

That could change as part of an estimated $1.1 million project.

Association officials proposed creating a turf soccer field, including a smaller practice field, not far from the existing baseball/softball fields.

It would be named the Leo Moss Memorial Soccer Field in memory of the legendary Quaker Valley coach and Sewickley Area Soccer founder.

“He’s a longtime soccer coach for the high school and built the foundation for what has been a great run for the high school soccer teams,” QVRA president Jeff Lipton said. “They’ve won state championships and that kind of thing. He’s revered.”

Other upgrades include lights at the ball fields, a playground, restrooms, concession stands, seating areas for fans, parking upgrades and a walking track.

The hope is to have the project ready for bid in the summer and have most of the work done by early next year.

Future projects include another soccer field and a Little League/T-ball field at the park.

“The long-term goal is to make this really the youth sports complex for all the sports in the community,” said Michael Riordan, Quaker Valley Softball & Baseball president.

QVRA received a $500,000 grant through the state Office of Budget’s Redevelopment Assistant Capital Program.

The Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County will administer the grant.

Riordan said there is a $600,000 match for the grant. The QVRA has raised about $540,000 toward that effort as of early February through private and foundation donations, including $15,000 from the Pittsburgh Pirates through its Fields for Kids Program.

The park is owned by the school district. QVRA has 35 years left on its 50-year lease of the property.

Lipton said the district is helping with the engineering side of the project at no cost to the association.

“They want to be sure whatever we develop will be in good condition when they take it back over,” Lipton said.

The association asked Bell Acres to contribute to the project. It’s unclear how much the borough would be willing to contribute.

School district officials declined to comment.

Messages to Bell Acres Councilman Charles Kulbacki, chair of property and supplies committee, were not returned at presstime.

More information about the project, including how to donate, is available at qvrfdf.org.