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Swarthmore College presents aspirational Cunningham Field plan; residents, council press for zoning safeguards
Summary
College officials presented an aspirational plan to consolidate tennis courts, add two all-weather fields, lights and a support building at Cunningham Fields; residents raised concerns about reduced setbacks, nighttime lighting, traffic and turf materials, and council proposed committee review rather than immediate approval.
Swarthmore College representatives presented an aspirational sketch plan for Cunningham Fields at the boroughwork session on Oct. 7, outlining a multi-part proposal that would consolidate tennis courts, add all-weather playing surfaces (including a low-pile field-hockey surface), install athletic lighting and scoreboards, and construct a support building with concessions, restrooms and storage.
"Were not asking for a vote on anything at this point; were trying to follow the public process," said Andy Fike, associate vice president for facilities maintenance and capital programs at the college. Fike described programmatic needs that have outpaced current facilities and said the sketch was meant to start a conversation.
The colleges sketch shows up to 12 tennis courts (relocating six courts from another campus location), two fields converted to all-weather surfaces, flood lighting (proposed tennis poles about 50 feet tall and larger-field poles up to 70 feet), bleachers, electronic scoreboards, pedestrian links and an approximately 6,000-square-foot support building.
Residents and several council members expressed concerns that the plan would require changes to current zoning protections. Alison manaker, representing residents north of Cunningham Field, said she understood the college intended to reduce the current 200-foot perimeter transition setback to 100 feet to allow illumination and other accessory uses closer to homes. "If these proposed modifications to the code come before you, please consider the importance of retaining the nature of our residential area," she said.
College staff said they had also developed alternative sketches that push courts and lighting farther from residences, and they commissioned an independent study about turf materials and environmental impacts. "If you use the right materialsand infill alternatives exist, you can significantly reduce or eliminate concerns about crumb rubber runoff," the college said, noting the report was in draft form.
Council and staff walked through procedural options: the college can apply for variances before the zoning hearing board, request zoning-ordinance text changes for council consideration, or work with planning and zoning committees for a negotiated local approach. Multiple council members and staff recommended the planning and zoning committee and Town planning committees take up the detailed review during Q1 2025 rather than deciding in the full council setting that night.
Council did not approve any zoning changes or variances at the work session. Several residents and council members asked for technical details about light intensity, direction, scoreboard size, night-time hours and traffic-management plans before considering approval of any ordinance or variance.
Next steps noted at the meeting included committee-level review with public input in early 2025 and circulation of technical questions from borough staff to the college for follow-up. No formal vote or ordinance advertisement occurred at the Oct. 7 work session.
