MYSA Packs Council Room, Makes Plea For New Fields

MOORESTOWN, NJ - Rain that smacked the region on Sunday lead to the cancellation of practice for teams in the Moorestown Youth Softball Association (MYSA) on Monday. Moorestown’s travel team had to cancel a home game the same night.

It’s nothing new. In the last two years, a total of 18 softball games were canceled in Moorestown on days when other teams were able to play on their fields.

Officials with the association have told the township’s Recreation Advisory Committee this, and reiterated this point to township council at their meeting Monday night at town hall.

Ironically, the cancellations may have increased the association’s presence at the meeting, as just shy of 20 players joined in with coaches, umpires and administrators to speak about the conditions of Moorestown’s fields, and the fact that none are dedicated to softball specifically.

The result was a standing-room only atmosphere where players and coaches made their plea to council to finally get something done about their issue.

In all, 40 players were in attendance, according to MYSA Board Member Bob Reilley. Some of the 20 players who spoke mentioned safety.

“Our dugouts aren’t covered,” one player said. “When you have a foul ball and it hits a covered dugout, you can hear how hard it hits, so if that hit a person, it could really hurt a lot.”

Others talked about the comparison to other towns that have better facilities. Reilley said he’s been to 21 different complexes over the years. Twenty of those towns had fenced-in dugouts, and 19 had roofs on their dugouts.

“We didn’t have either,” Reilley said.

“Other teams laugh at us, and we’re getting tired of it,” a player said.

“When it’s sunny and it gets really hot, some of the girls get headaches,” another player said. “When it rains, our equipment gets soaked. Our fields are a disgrace.”

Some players asked why baseball has better facilities, and why their players get uniforms and softball players only get a shirt.

This angered some members of council, including Deputy Mayor Nicole Gillespie and Councilwoman Victoria Napolitano, as well as members of the public, who said the one sport being shortchanged in the township is the only sport that’s set aside completely for girls.

In 2008, the Moorestown Recreation Advisory Committee put together a report detailing the needs at the various youth athletic facilities across the township.

In 2014, Moorestown Council set aside $150,000 for engineer and design services for upgrades for those facilities, including the fields used by the Moorestown Youth Softball Association (MYSA).

Five years later, just about everything is complete, but the softball fields are still in need of attention. The fields are in a low-lying area near wetlands, and rain can be a huge nightmare at a time of year when it never seems to let up.

Read more here: MYSA Continues To Seek Softball Field Upgrades

Earlier this month, MYSA made a formal proposal to the Recreation Advisory Committee in which it asked for a new field at the site of the old Wesley Bishop Skate Park. It also requested upgrades to its field at the Wesley Bishop south. Cost was not discussed at that time.

At a hearing to discuss the recreation portion of the municipal budget last week, a price tag of $700,000 was attached to the project, which is about $200,000 more than design plans submitted by Taylor Design Group last year.

In November, two new members were elected to Moorestown Council and the balance of political power shifted from Republicans to Democrats. In January, Bach Associates was appointed to replace Taylor Design as the Township Landscape Architect/Park Design Consultant.

On Monday night, Township Manager Thomas Neff said the difference in cost between Taylor and Bach is not an apples to apples comparison. Taylor’s estimate was only for engineer and design plans, while Bach included construction costs. Bach also said some of Taylor’s estimates were too low.

“We have one proposal in writing that says $490,000, and what we have on the other hand is a critique of that proposal that says it’s closer to $700,000,” Neff said. “It’s not that far off.”

The difference in cost has caused some on council to be hesitant when it comes to considering the project, especially considering the other projects currently underway in Moorestown.

“We’re trying to get a lot of needs met in this budget,” Moorestown Mayor Lisa Petriello said.

When the baseball fields were done, the township received a contribution from the organization. Reilley said MYSA would contribute a percentage of the overall cost. He said if they could get a total of five fields dedicated to softball, they would be able to host tournaments that would help raise money to contribute to the project.

Council members said the fields had to be put off when issues with Moorestown’s water supply emerged, followed by a settlement that mandated the township build 337 new affordable housing units by 2025.

One player who is now in high school said she waited five years for upgrades, and it’s now too late for her. Another said when they see the baseball fields, they ask why the baseball teams have these fields and they don’t.

“Can you tell us why?” she asked.

The passionate cry from the players was also felt by members of council, including Brian Donnelly, who was elected as a Democrat in November.

“All I hear is excuses,” Donnelly said, citing President Harry Truman when he said, “the buck stops here.”

“For 10 years, we had a Republican majority and nothing has happened,” Donnelly said. “You’re going to get your field. … I’ve heard enough. We’re going to find the money in this budget.”

Councilman Mike Locatell said he has been fighting for the upgrades for about a decade. MYSA members said they hope that council builds on their passion with results for their players.

Moorestown Council will hold its final scheduled budget hearing on Wednesday, May 15, 7 p.m. at town hall. It will discuss recreation. There will also be a closed session to discuss affordable housing.