Sewickley Academy officials discuss scaled back plans for Nichols Field with Edgeworth residents

Sewickley Academy officials have scaled back their recreation plans of the Nichols Field property along Beaver Road in Edgeworth.

Original plans unveiled in September called for the removal of the tennis courts for larger synthetic turf soccer and lacrosse fields. An artificial turf baseball field would replace the current grass soccer field.

It also added lights for night games, a second entrance to the facility and additional parking spaces.

Academy director of buildings and grounds Jim Miller gave an informal update of the proposal at an Edgeworth Planning Commission meeting March 8.

He said they are no longer removing the tennis courts or changing the grass soccer and lacrosse fields.

The second entrance and lighting have been removed from the design, and the gravel parking lot would be paved instead of expanded.

Only the baseball infield will be changed to synthetic turf to help with drainage. Rain gardens also will contribute to stormwater management.

Miller said further examination of the ambitious expansion plans led academy leaders to revert to an agreement and permits that were approved in 1997.

“We’re not trying to create anything bigger than what we currently have when we did the original design,” Miller said. “We have a lot of drainage problems down there. Even though we work in the field and have a good grounds crew, we still have to cancel three or four games every year.”

Miller said scaling back the project also keeps it within requirements for state Department of Environmental Protection permits, particularly limiting artificial turf to the baseball infield.

New benches, fencing, scoreboards and backstops remain in the plans, as does repainting the concession stand and bathrooms and replacing the batting cages.

“A lot of this is improving and enhancing the aesthetics,” Miller said. “We need to make improvements so we’re on par with our other peer institutions. Right now, what we have is woefully below what a lot of the other places that our students compete at have.

“We thought this was a good compromise. We’re going to a full-blown project, but we are addressing a lot of things, especially aesthetically.”

Plans also include mobile player shelters to help teams stay out of the rain and provide shade for hot summer games.

Academy officials did not disclose how much the project may cost.

Resident Rick Scholl said he liked everything he saw with Miller’s presentation except for the artificial infield turf.

“I think it would ruin the aesthetics of Nichols Field to put in a turf infield,” he said. “I don’t like pits at all. I’ve been there. I despise it. There’s nothing like natural grass.”

The Miller House

One of the concerns attendees had about the property was the future of what they called the historic Miller House, a two-story home built in the 1800s.

Miller said there are no plans to demolish the house.

“We’re looking at our options,” he said. “There’s a variety of things we’re considering. It’s not being torn down. We keep the building up to date. Our security guys check on it. We’re just looking at the best use of that facility.”

Resident Kirk Fordham said after the meeting that he was pleased to hear that news, and thought what was presented to the planning commission was better than the academy’s September plans.

“I think it’s an improvement,” Fordham said.

The planning commission only hosted a discussion and presentation of the proposed project.

Dave Aloe, commissioner and Edgeworth council vice president, said the academy has not submitted anything formally.

“We just heard what they intend to do,” Aloe said. “They have to submit the plan.”

Miller said the hope is to have documents ready for submission by the end of the month so the planning commission could vote on it in April.