Youth football league locked out of ATI-owned fields over neighbors' complaints

A youth football league that serves Highlands School District communities is alleging a major fumble by Harrison-based ATI, one of the Valley’s largest employers.

Leaders of the Rams Youth Football Organization (RYFO) said more than 150 young athletes are being evicted from their home facility, Bushman Field, leaving the group without a space to practice and compete.

“ATI put a lock on the gate after our last game in November and locked out the youth of this community,” said Scott Dadowski, vice president of the league and Tarentum Council president.

“We are good neighbors. We have put $40,000 into that field. All we’re trying to do is give the kids a place to play.”

Bushman Field sits at the end of Karns Road in Harrison and is owned by ATI.

It’s a relatively sparse area with only about four or five homes, but among them is at least one person who opposes youth football in their neighborhood, according to ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie.

“As the company worked to establish a future lease with RYFO, neighborhood opposition became apparent,” Gillespie said.

She did not disclose whether neighbors were mad about traffic, noise or another issue, but Dadowski said RYFO leaders are willing to sit down and work out a compromise.

“No one has ever come to us and complained about anything,” he said. “We know we’re fortunate to have that facility, and we’ve worked hard down there. We put in a new fence, internet and security cameras.

“We’re willing to change our game times, turn the lights in a different direction, do whatever we need to do to be good neighbors.”

The specialty metals company, whose mills span blocks along the Allegheny River, has supported youth sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley for more than 25 years, Gillespie said.

Use of Bushman Field for more than a decade was given for free to the Highlands Hornets football league, and, when that league disbanded, RYFO took over the free lease in 2021.

RYFO previously practiced at Dreshar Stadium in Tarentum and played its games at Highlands’ Golden Rams Stadium.

Gillespie said ATI cannot enter into an agreement with RYFO until the discrepancies are worked out.

“While we don’t want to prevent use of Bushman Field for RYFO, we must also be respectful of neighborhood concerns,” she said.

“We asked RYFO to meet with the neighbors to reach an agreement on acceptable usage and potential restrictions that would satisfy all parties. We are attempting to find a resolution but don’t have specifics on what that might look like.”

In the meantime, the youth football season typically begins Monday with voluntary practices. By mid-July, the season is in full swing with players and cheerleaders taking the field for practices several times a week in preparation for games that begin in August.

“We need to secure a place for our kids to be,” Dadowski said.

RYFO officials approached Tarentum Council to request that the league resume practices at Dreshar Stadium. Council is expected to vote during its meeting May 9, with Dadowski abstaining.

Highlands has agreed to allow use of its facilities for games.

“Everyone complains about kids these days, and here they are, from July to October, not on the streets or getting in trouble but out here exercising and doing something productive,” Dadowski said. “This is so disheartening, but we have to pivot and focus on finding a place for our kids.”