Klinger Park soccer fields to open in Southpointe
Plans for Klinger Park in Southpointe include three soccer fields, a basketball and dek hockey court, a concession stand and playground, in addition to an extension of Montour Trail that will connect to Southpointe sidewalks.
Two of the soccer fields at Klinger Park will be ready for use by spring 2015, and the third will be ready by next fall. The dirt section in the middle of the photo will be the location of a concession stand and playground.
Andy Schrader, chairman of the Cecil Township Board of Supervisors, stands on one of three soccer fields at Klinger Park in Southpointe that will be open to the public next year.
The plan for Klinger Park
Children in the Canon-Mac Youth Soccer Association will have brand new, green fields to run, kick and punt on next year. Two soccer fields at Klinger Park in Southpointe will be ready for action in the spring, and a third field will be open by next fall.
“It’s not going to benefit Cecil Township. It’s going to benefit the whole area,” said Andy Schrader, chairman of Cecil’s board of supervisors.
The park is located off of Klinger Road in a newly developed section of Southpointe, just beyond a cul-de-sac by Reserve at Southpointe apartments.
Schrader said the park will bring in people from neighboring communities and increase traffic at Southpointe businesses.
Plans for Klinger Park were brewing for years, but the $1.9 million project got started in 2009 when Cecil Township received grants from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Local Share Account to purchase the land from Dick Corp.
The neighboring apartment developer, Morgan Properties, donated an additional nine acres to the park, making it a 35-acre space.
In addition to three soccer fields, the park will include a basketball and dek hockey court, three pavilions, a dog park, playground, concession stands, restrooms, walking paths around the perimeter of the facility and ample parking space.
Another leg of the project is to extend Montour Trail to Southpointe. The handicap-accessible walking trail will wind through a wooded area, cut in between the dog park and second soccer field, and connect to Southpointe sidewalks.
The soccer association hopes to raise about $1.5 million to make this a reality.
After that goal is met, they want to raise an additional $4.5 million to convert the three fields to artificial turf surfaces.
Corporate donors are welcome, and naming rights to the park itself and individual fields can be purchased through significant contributions.
Steve Glancy, vice president of the soccer association, said the group is currently using four school-owned soccer fields that are fairly spread out.
Glancy said maintenance of those fields will now be easier, plus the group doesn’t need to worry about the district’s plan to construct a new elementary school and close Muse, Cecil and First Street schools.
“It’s definitely an added benefit to having this park, because these schools are going to be closed down for construction, and they’re not going to allow us to utilize those fields during the construction phase,” Glancy said.
This spring, 800 soccer enthusiasts between the ages of four and 18 will play on local youth teams.
Also, players between the ages of 10 and 18 play in a travel league through the PA West Soccer Association.