Turf Field Proponents Seek Support with Petition

Frustrated with a perceived lack of progress on the efforts to create a turf field for Springfield athletics, township residents and political figures have launched an online petition to show support.

The petition is addressed to Springfield's Township Committee as well as the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The petition notes the money that Springfield pays to the County's Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund for which the Township allegedly gets little in return. The petition urges Freeholders to "dedicate a meaningful amount of funding towards this project."

Earlier this year, Springfield's Board of Education and Township Committee voted for a "land swap" agreement. Through the land swap, the Board gave the Township property that can be developed and sold to pay for the turf field. The swap was necessary because the Board can not legally sell land directly to developers.

Former Springfield Mayor and current is hosting the petition on his site. Several turf field advocates have told Springfield Patch that the petition has already garnered 250 signatures.

The petition targets current Mayor Hugh Keffer for allegedly making "vague" and contradictory statements about the turf field.

The petition can be found online here.