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Softball Field

August 15, 2025

Ellwood City Girls Softball Team to Seek Neighboring School District Fields for Home Games

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to allow the girls softball team to use neighboring school districts’ fields for home games during the August 14th Regular Meeting. The girls previously played at Stiefel Park on a field owned by the borough, but they will not return to Stiefel in their upcoming season. The board expressed safety concerns and a deterioration of the field as the reasoning for seeking play at neighboring districts’ fields. Board members also stated that they no longer wish to invest money into any improvements to the field at Stiefel Park. “I’m not…

July 14, 2025

ECASD Board of Directors Votes to Not Appeal Findings of Court of Common Pleas Regarding Softball Field

The Ellwood City Area School District will not appeal the findings of the Court of Common Pleas denying a proposed softball field in the Ewing Park School location. The ECASD Board of Directors voted on a motion to approve the Notice of Appeal filed in Case No. 70012 of 2025 MD in the Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County during the July 14 Combined meeting of the board. The motion failed following “No” votes from Kevin Boariu; Kathy Galbreath; Kathy Tillia; and Norman Boots. “Yes” votes were cast by Jennifer Tomon, board president; Jean Biehls, board vice president; Dr….

June 18, 2025

Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County Judge Denies Ellwood City Area School District’s Appeal Regarding Softball Field

The Ellwood City Area School District’s appeal of the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Adjudication of the Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Ellwood City relating to a proposed softball field in Ewing Park was denied in the Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County. Judge John Hodge decided that the district is precluded from constructing the proposed project at that location “as it failed to comply with the Ellwood City Borough Zoning Ordinance” affirming the January 17, 2025, decision of the Ellwood City governing body. Read the findings here. The Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of…

February 11, 2025

ECASD Board of Directors Authorizes Appeal for Proposed Softball Field

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to appeal the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Adjudication of the Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Ellwood City relating to the proposed softball field during Monday’s regular meeting. All board members in attendance voted yes to support the appeal, and director Norman Boots was absent from the meeting. Director Kevin Boariu said he supports the appeal because he does not want the property to sit vacant and that he does not believe that the District should be in the business of owning unused property. Chris Voltz,…

January 22, 2025

Zoning Hearing Board Denies ECASD Application for Special Exception to Build Softball Field at Ewing Park Property

The Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Ellwood City has denied the Ellwood City Area School District’s application for special exception to build a softball field on the Ewing Park School property. The board held a hearing on December 4, 2024, to take the District’s application into consideration and has determined that the proposed use of the property is not a permitted use as a public park/playground in a Low-Density R-1(A) District. The findings offered by Zoning Hearing Board members Joseph Lamenza, Timothy O’Brien, and David Parker on January 17, 2025, stated that the proposed softball field, its related…

November 26, 2024

Zoning Board to Consider Exemption For Proposed Girls Softball Field

As Ewing Park residents continue to oppose a girls softball field at the Ewing Park School property, the school district will make a special exemption request to implement the facility to the zoning hearing board during a 10 a.m. meeting on Dec 4. The meeting will be held at the borough building. Current zoning allows for a park or playground but not a sports field. The district hopes to win the appeal and get one step closer to the softball complex they have planned. The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors unanimously approved a plan to commit to…

August 8, 2024

ECASD’s Board of Directors Approve Traffic Study at Site of Proposed Softball Field

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors approved a traffic study of the Ewing Park Property where a softball field is proposed to be built during Thursday’s regular meeting. The study will be conducted by Gateway Engineers, at a cost not to exceed $4,000. All directors except for Norman Boots, Kathy Galbreath, and Kevin Boariu voted in favor of the study, and Director Claire Fauzey was absent from the meeting. Galbreath asked if the study is necessary at this time, and Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said that the zoning board will require the study so doing it now…

March 12, 2024

ECASD Moving Forward with Testing at Proposed Site of Girls Softball Field

Ellwood City Area School District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley announced during Monday’s board of director’s committee meeting that although the district is moving forward with tests and studies on the proposed area for the new girls softball field at the old Ewing Park School site, they are still far away from the building permits and zoning process. Shipley said workers have been at the site to do topographical studies and to take core samples and water perk tests. He urged residents in the area, specifically speaking directly to the Citizens for Ewing Park Preservation (CEPP) group to not approach workers…

February 8, 2024

ECASD Board of Directors Approve Changes to High School Curriculum; Face More Feedback from CEPP Group

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors approved requested changes to the High School Curriculum during the February 8, 2024 regular meeting. The changes were requested by Lincoln High School Principals, Mike Garvin and John Sovich. Garvin spoke previously at the committee meeting saying that the changes would benefit the students and have been a long time coming. One of the big changes is the addition of a Communications requirement, which will help students communicate in today’s ever changing, technology fueled world. Some of the changes requested included: A newly revised AP Course Policy Offering the required high school…

February 6, 2024

New Advocacy Group Formed to Preserve Ewing Park, Oppose Planned Softball Field

A new advocacy group has been formed to preserve Ewing Park. The Citizens for Ewing Park Preservation (CEPP) group was announced during Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors Committee Meeting Monday evening. Chairperson for the group, Karen Mancini, is a resident of Beatty Street, which faces the old Ewing Park School property where the district has proposed and plans to construct a girls softball field. She made a statement on behalf of the group during the meeting, “We are organized and represented by legal counsel and stand ready to oppose any attempt to convert the subject property to…