FIGHT FOR THE FIELDS.COM
A Community Coming Together to Inform on the Impacts of Swarthmore College's Cunningham Field Redevelopment Project
Planning Commission Meeting
ATTEND THE MEETING!
Make Your Voice Heard - Learn of the Impacts Before It's Too Late!
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CALL TO ACTION - MAKE AN IMPACT
Come pack the room and demand healthy changes in the Cunningham Field Plan at the Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m., in Borough Hall.
“Declaring that it is desirable for the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Swarthmore Borough to have such facilities,” on May 12, 2025, Swarthmore Borough Council, as the Swarthmore Borough Authority, approved issuance of $250 million in Swarthmore College revenue bonds to fund campus facility construction and renovation (signed agreement is on Borough website).
In the spirit of the Borough allowing the College to raise $250 million last spring, the Cunningham Field Plan must be changed to make it truly “desirable for the health, safety, and welfare” of Borough residents.
1. Construct soundproof and lightproof buildings over all proposed fields and tennis courts. Homeowners must be able to put their infants and young children to sleep any time, day or night, without any stadium sound and light pollution blight. Buildings over fields/ courts will address child safety concerns adjacent to our beloved and only elementary school. Our young children are encouraged to walk unaccompanied by adults to and from school and must be safe in the playground during days and evenings throughout the year. Property values on the north side of Swarthmore and in the Ville must be preserved for “the welfare of the people of Swarthmore.”
2. Build adequate parking spaces for eight team tour buses and 250 cars, since 250 or more spectator seats are to be built. Ban parking of team tour buses on all Borough streets. Provide parking and emergency access only from the south side. No parking chaos can stress Borough residents.
3. Do not construct perimeter fences or gates around Cunningham Field. The Borough has always banned property fencing (with few exceptions), and the College must conform to historic Borough standards.
4. Indoor 12-month use of fields and tennis courts should be shared with Borough residents to benefit their health, with a published schedule.
5. All playing surfaces, including artificial turf, if approved, must be fully enclosed on cement floors where no runoff is permitted into groundwater, repaired regularly, and removed with care so no particles escape to blow over the elementary school playground or resident homes.
6. Confine any alcohol use to inside field buildings only. We expect Swarthmore College to meet the health and safety needs of Swarthmore Borough residents and stand by its legal ongoing agreement with the Swarthmore Borough Authority to create facilities “desirable for the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Swarthmore Borough.”
- Barbara Drebing Kauffman, Swarthmore Resident
IMPACTS FOR INCOME...?
Why should the residents of Swarthmore, who live here everyday, deal with the negative impacts of the redevelopment of Cunningham Fields?
Motivation for money, not for the many.
BEWARE OF THESE IMPACTS!
The most intensive use of the fields will be utilized during the once quiet Summer months of June, July, and August.
The fields will be rented and utilized sometimes in the full capacity of all 4 fields, something that has never been done in the entire history of Cunningham Field.
WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS?
SAFETY (CLICK +)
TRAFFIC (CLICK +)
PARKING (CLICK +)
HEALTH (CLICK +)
PROPERTY VALUES (CLICK +)
NOISE & LIGHT POLLUTION (CLICK +)
IRREVERSIBLE IMPACTS (CLICK +)
WHAT WILL WE DO TOGETHER?
There are many negative impacts we will feel in the future and there will be no turning back once this is in motion. Show up! Make your voice heard.
