Grapeville residents banding together to save ball field

Community members may have thrown their last pitch last summer at a Grapeville ball field after residents say members of the fire department sold the land.

The field, at 1260 Toledo St. in Hempfield, has been a staple in the community and is utilized by an adult coed team, said Dennis Quinn, president of the adult team.

Now, residents are banding together to save the field, which online records show is owned by the Grapeville Volunteer Fire Company.

More than 185 people have signed an online petition calling for the park to remain as is, and encouraging residents to attend Monday’s Hempfield supervisors meeting.

“The thing that bothers me is: You sacrifice the needs of the children for a personal reason to keep the fire hall (social club) going — for what? Another two or three years … while these kids have nothing to do in your community? To me, it seems senseless,” said Quinn, 46, of Jeannette. “Any money should not be taken away from a child.”

Grapeville Fire Chief Dan Nescott declined to comment.

Hempfield Township Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic said, “What I understand is Grapeville owned the land the ball field is on and they recently had a vote to sell the property.”

Kovacic said he did not have further information on the matter.

According to Quinn, community members have maintained the field, which also houses a basketball court and playground, for about four years after he struck a deal with Nescott saying annual dues would not need to be paid in return for the labor. He said no formal paperwork was drawn up for the arrangement.

During that period, Quinn said about $3,000 was spent on dirt to fill in the field along with hours of volunteer work in painting the concession stand, mowing the grass and maintaining playground equipment.

In the coming year, Quinn hoped to open the field to a Little League team and to create practices where multiple softball teams could practice together.

“Plans of maintaining and growing this beautiful community park have come to a halt,” the petition reads. “Unbeknownst to the residents of the community, and the many people from surrounding areas that love and utilize this park, the land is in the process of being sold. The fire department really should take the thousands of people’s opinions and feelings into consideration that love and enjoy this park.”

Monday’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the township municipal building, 1132 Woodward Drive.

“I have talked to my entire league, and they’re devastated,” Quinn said. “They’re devastated because this was a home to us and we had made many good friends that became family.”