Repairs nearly completed at vandalized North Union ballfield
Zach Petroff | 无毛视频-Standard
It is hard to tell that just three months ago someone in a Jeep tore through the grounds of Mount Braddock Ballfield, leaving deep tire tracks and damaging a fence.
The divots have since been filled, new grass has been planted, and North Union Township Supervisor Curtis Matthews said Tuesday that the last remaining repair is to the fence around the ballfield. That, he said, will be done once the newly planted grass is high enough.
“We just finished putting 80 tons of topsoil on it,” Matthews said. “The grass just started to grow, and it’s (coming) in real nice and green.”
The repairs cost nearly $4,500, supervisors said, and were offset by donations from the community. The board recognized two of the contributors at their Tuesday meeting: Fred Pounds of Dunbar, who donated $1,000; and Daniel Spinell of Uniontown, who donated $250.
Neither was in attendance at the meeting, but supervisors said their donations, along with the work of township employees, helped to get the park back in full swing this summer.
“It was a nice gesture for them to reach out and donate to the field,” Supervisor Ronald Landman said. “We just wanted to recognize those folks tonight. It’s a cool thing that they did.”
On April 6, the driver of a Jeep sped around the grounds during a particularly rainy time, leaving deep tire tracks in the mud around the baseball field and damaging the fence that surrounds it. At the time, supervisors said they were thankful that the driver of the Jeep couldn’t access the ballfield in an attempt to cause damage there.
Authorities believe the driver of the Jeep also caused damage near the ballfield to the post office, veterans memorial and private homes.
Officials reported the driver was likely a juvenile. State police investigated the case, though the name of the person charged would not be made public if it was a juvenile.
Matthews said he was glad to have the park repaired quickly, thanks in great part to township workers and equipment.
“It’s a nice park, it’s got a playground for the kids and a pavilion that you have to reserve six months ahead of time to get a spot,” Matthews said. “It’s a pretty hot spot in the township.”