Springdale is looking for suggestions from residents about the fate of Veterans Memorial Field.
A previously formed five-member committee, appointed by Springdale Council to study potential options at the field, will host a public hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Springdale Borough Building.
The field has been 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.
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. The Dynamos played their first home games on the turf last week.
But the Vets Field grounds haven’t been totally lifeless.
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.
Springdale Borough Manager Terry Carcella said the borough still needs to place some fencing near the new courts, but he hopes it will get residents active in the area.
“We want the park used; we want it utilized to its fullest extent,” he said.
Springdale Council also approved the use of the field by Lower Valley Little League’s 120 youth athletes for its games and practices starting next season.
The organization currently plays at nearby Lampus Field.
It remains unclear what sort of plans are up for discussion among the committee or how those plans would be funded, but Carcella mentioned the possibility of additional pavilions for events at the field.
He said the committee would consider the comments gathered at the Thursday meeting as it discusses its recommendations to Springdale Council throughout the remainder of the year.
The committee will likely present those recommendations to council in January, Carcella said.
