Everyone Wins: Agreement Allows Clifton Heights School and Borough Fields

By

Mark Campbell, Michael Humphreys, Edward Brown, Dan McGarry.
Image via Clifton Heights Borough.
Clifton Heights Mayor Mark Campbell (left) shakes hands with Upper Darby School Board President Edward Brown. Also shown are Clifton Heights Borough Council Preisdent Michael Humphreys (second from left) and Upper Darby School Superintendent Dr. Dan McGarry (right).

A formal agreement was signed Tuesday evening between Clifton Heights and the Upper Darby School District that transfers a renovated youth athletic field to the borough while also allowing construction of the new Clifton Heights Middle School.

Clifton Heights Mayor Mark Campbell and Clifton Heights Borough Council participated in the signing at Clifton Heights Borough Hall, along with representatives from the Upper Darby School District

The agreement also covers community concerns relating to traffic and parking at the new school.

“We are thrilled that the borough and the school district could come together to reach an agreement that represents the best possible outcome for members of our community,” said Mayor Campbell. 

Mayor Campbell said the fields represent the borough’s only open green space and have been home to youth athletic programs and community events for decades.

“Preserving these fields was a high priority for the borough because they are such an integral part of our community and the quality of life of residents.”  

The Upper Darby School District will renovate the existing athletic fields as part of the construction of the Clifton Heights Middle School closest to North Springfield Road. It will then turn ownership of the athletic fields over to Clifton Heights Borough.

At present, the school district owns the land but has been leasing it to the borough for $1 a year since 1977.

Borough residents feared construction of the new school would take away the fields, an idea that generated contention between the school district, the community and local elected officials.

“We are pleased that the school district was willing to work with the borough to find the middle ground that meets the needs of the school district and addresses the concerns of residents,” said Michael Humphreys, President of Clifton Heights Borough Council. 

While the middle school is being built along Springfield Road, borough athletic teams will use other school district fields.

Once the school is built, the athletic fields and open space will be subdivided and deeded to the borough, guaranteeing the fields will be available to borough youth teams and community organizations.

Local youth sports organizations, like the Clifton Heights Police Athletic League, can also use the indoor athletic facilities of the new school for youth basketball programs.

 A concern from local businesses that business district street parking would be lost to the new school was addressed by widening intersections and adding a turning lane along North Springfield Road at Oak Avenue and N. Sycamore Avenue.

The school district has also agreed to develop a plan addressing parking concerns for Sycamore Avenue residents.

The agreement also addresses community concerns related to parking and traffic. One major concern was the potential loss of street parking in the borough’s business district. That parking will be retained through the widening of intersections and the addition of a turning lane along North Springfield Road at the intersections of Oak Avenue and North Sycamore Avenue.  The school district has also committed to developing a plan to address parking concerns raised by residents along Sycamore Avenue. 

Learn more at the Clifton Heights Borough government website.

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