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Sat
Sep 8
2012

Von Colln Memorial Field Ruined by Made in America

Jay-Z‘s Made in America concert last weekend was a huge success, bringing thousands of locals and visitors together to rock out on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. A week later, the ringing in our ears has disappeared, but at least one reminder of the concert remains:

Muddy mess

Yikes

Von Colln Memorial Field, located at 22nd and the Parkway, was used extensively during the two-day concert, and the field is destroyed as a result. As you can see in the photos above, youth or adult league baseball is probably off the table this fall.

The good news: According to Newsworks, a renovation of this field has been in the works for years, and is finally scheduled to begin in short order. The budget is $300,000, though we’re guessing the damage from the concert will probably push the cost up. Who will be on the hook for that additional cost is unclear, let’s just hope that the responsibility doesn’t fall to the taxpayers…

9
COMMENTS
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Posted in Logan Square | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments
  • Cho cho

    That’s right, we should just let a huge foreign owned corporation use our Champs Élysées for free to make a profit. Or lets just screw our kids. They are both after all the American Way. Or at least the Philly Way.

  • Eric Clay Warner

    I could not agree more. BUT I think that for now the current use is great, its a highly used public space which highly benefits the community. Though if a more substantial project is proposed I would totally support it and the Parkway’s role as our culture boulevard.

  • Nicole

    Well you can definitely tell you’re not from the neighborhood. That ball field has been the home to every child that has grown up in Fairmount for as long as I can remember. Would you prefer our children to not have a “home” for some social/physical activity?

  • Frank Rizzo

    Hey Nutter got to realize his DJ fantasies though, and that’s what’s important – not little things like taxpayers and their taxpayments. Any word on what the final bill was for this election-year’s Obama political rally? Better than Bruce though

  • Mitch Lawrence

    Boston, NYC,Chi,London,Paris,SF,Tokyo and Vancouver bow their head in shame at those friggin ridiculous little league fields in the heart of the city. Get rid that nonsense NOW!

  • Mitch Lawrence

    Yes I would.The problem is this is the city of Philadelphia not the city of Fairmount. There are 11 sq miles of parkland available starting 1/10th from Fairmount that your deprived kids can play in. Stop marring the Parkway with those ball fields.

  • Kate R

    FYI- there is a playground on the Champs Elsees….and a McDonalds, Virgin Megastore, a ferris wheel and a Disney store. So to say that a ball field is inappropriate for the city of Philadelphia is short cited. It benefits not only children in Fairmount during baseball season but is also used by adult leagues, and as practice space for football and baseball for neighboring schools as well as school outdoor events. I think the community pace adds to the richness of the area.

  • Miller

    You are a disgrace.

  • Nicole

    What suburb did you grow up in because clearly you are not originally from the area. I have lived
    here my entire life, I have played on that field and I look forward to one day walking out Penn Ave.
    with my children to go to their ball games. That ball field has been there for almost 45 years. It’s been there long before anyone began thinking about turning the parkway in to a Champs-Elysees and I hope it remains there.

    All that aside, personally I think when the field is packed with families and kids hanging out and playing ball spring through fall, it adds charm to the park way. So you can take your Champs-Elysees elsewhere.

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