When: Rapho Township Board of Supervisors meeting, Feb. 20.
What happened: Resident Jeanette Carter presented petitions signed by 74 residents in two developments surrounding Rapho Township Community Park opposing the township’s plan to install lights at two baseball and softball fields in the park at 960 Strickler Road, Mount Joy.
Park background: Dedicated in 2008, the 30-acre park off Strickler Road features two pavilions, playgrounds, several small silo-shaped shade areas, a walking trail, two baseball/softball and soccer fields, a storage building and basketball courts. It’s also the site for a 3-acre dog park. There are two parking areas — one off Strickler Road and the other off Fieldstone Drive near the dog park.
Why it matters: After discussion with residents during a Nov. 21 meeting, the township applied for an $815,000 state Local Share Account grant to fund the installation of lights. At the Nov. 21 meeting, some residents supported the plan to install lights at the fields, while others opposed it.
Project background: Don Wenger, athletic field scheduling coordinator, asked supervisors to consider installing lights at the fields during a Sept. 19 meeting. At that meeting, he said field space is tight in the Manheim area, and no new fields are being constructed. Installing lights at the fields would allow games to be played into the night. During the Nov. 21 meeting Township Manager Randall Wenger said the lights would have fixtures directing lights downward onto the playing field.
Resident comments: Carter, who lives along Fieldstone Drive, said residents opposed to the project had concerns about light spillage, noise and increased traffic in her neighborhood. She said she feels lights are not needed since there is plenty of daylight in the summer. Judy Schmidt said she and other residents would appreciate more communication from the township about grants the township plans to apply for and projects proposed for the park. Robin Price said her concern is the dawn-to-dusk use of the park that would be extended by the lights.
Quotables: “I’m concerned about the influx of people who don’t necessarily live in our neighborhood or the township,” Carter said. “I understand baseball is fun and sports are fun, but sports where there’s one team after another using the fields are not what the park was designed for," Schmidt said. "I walk my dog there and my grandson plays there."
Township discussion: Lowell Fry, supervisors chair, said Manheim has over 30 baseball and softball teams, and it’s growing. Supervisor Randy Fox said he visited the park three times the past year, and the fields were in use. He said there is a need for field space in the Manheim area. As the township grows, there’s also a need for recreation, he said. One way to meet the need for additional field space is to add lights to fields, Fox said.
What’s next: The township will hear in the fall if it receives the grant funding, Wenger said after the meeting.
Crime report: Manheim Borough police Chief Jason Riggle presented the 2024 year-end crime report. There were 211 criminal offenses in the township, up from 199 in 2023. Vehicle crashes decreased from 274 in 2023 to 251 in 2024. The top types of crimes included disorderly conduct, simple assault and vandalism. The department’s clearance rate, or crimes that were solved, was 74% versus 66% in 2023.
