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Pottstown parks staff propose removing one ballfield, converting another to reduce flood damage
Summary
After repeated flooding damaged Memorial Park's infields, borough staff proposed removing Field No. 2, converting Field No. 3 from 60 to 90 feet, and creating a multi-use rectangular field to reduce recurring repair costs and expand resilient uses.
Pottstown parks staff told Council Sept. 3 they plan to reconfigure Memorial Park to reduce recurring flood damage and lower repair costs.
The proposal would remove Field No. 2 (a 90-foot field that has repeatedly lost infield mix and clay during floods), expand Field No. 3 (currently a 60-foot Little League field known as Ron Rocket Road's field) to a 90-foot field, and convert the existing Field No. 2 area into a multi-use rectangular field suitable for sports such as lacrosse, rugby and soccer.
"This is an athletic oriented park... the heart of this athletic area is the ball fields," Parks Director Michael said during the presentation, explaining the fields' construction (sub-base aggregate, clay/sand infield mixes, anchored bases and a pitching mound). He outlined repeated flood damage that in some cases removed a foot to a foot-and-a-half of infield material and left standing water where pitching mounds once were.
Why it matters: Flooding along the Manitowoc/Manitowney Creek has repeatedly damaged infield mixes and sub-base materials, making repairs expensive and unsustainable. Staff estimated previous field repairs ranged from $8,000 to $18,000 per repair. Parks staff said demand for 90-foot fields has declined and that moving one 90-foot field to a less flood-prone location would keep tournament-capable fields while reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation and timeline: Staff said much of the work can be performed in-house and proposed proceeding this fall; crews have already begun removing silt and deposited materials from Field No. 2. The plan would preserve two 90-foot fields in Memorial Park and create a flexible open area for rectangular sports, aligning with suggestions received from Arcadis during a summer review.
Council and community context: Staff emphasized outreach and said an Aug. 14 community meeting was well attended. Council members thanked staff for proactively proposing a longer-term solution rather than consistently repairing the same damage.
Limits and caveats: Staff acknowledged the new configuration will not eliminate all flood impacts; alluvial deposits will still affect turf and infields. The proposal aims to reduce repeated heavy repairs and expand the park's range of uses.
Ending: Parks staff requested direction to proceed this fall with in-house regrading and reconfiguration work and said they would return with updates as the project advances.
