Glen Mills, Pa., is an absolute haven for any kid who loves baseball. Sure, it isn’t Arizona or Florida, but the local municipalities and school districts do an awesome job maintaining fields and encouraging use of their facilities. Since there are a bevy of little leagues, batting cages, and instructional facilities, there are also some wonderful opportunities to just get out and field a few grounders.
With plentiful options, here are just a few of the exceptional fields locally available for youth baseball:
Pocopson Park (Pocopson Township)
Adjacent to the Pocopson Home on Route 52, Pocopson Park is a busy well-maintained set of fields. It is best to avoid the park altogether after school in the springtime, as it is a prime location for little leagues looking for an ideal field. Weekends are usually extremely busy.
Unionville Elementary School
Though there is only one field worth playing on, Unionville Elementary is extremely tough to get any type of significant time on during baseball season. Adjacent to URA Recreational Association, it is looked upon (and rightfully so) as the best alternative to the local little league fields. It is located on West Doe Run Road adjacent to Route 52.
One note of caution: Since it possesses a short right field “porch,” it is advisable to bring a number of baseballs since it is easy to lose a few well hit balls.
Charles F. Patton Middle School and Unionville High School
Patton Middle School and Unionville High School are adjacent to each other on Route 52 in Kennett Square. Given the schools border each other, it is difficult to determine which field belongs to which school. If you aren’t familiar with the area, it’s tough to distinguish between the two facilities. That is a testimony to how well-kept these beautiful properties are. When in doubt, these are the fields to go to, given they offer a large array of sizes for both baseball and softball. While often busy, there are approximately 10 workable fields in all–therefore, space is typically available.
Hillendale Elementary
Sadly, Hillendale Elementary has the reputation as the “last place” to play baseball. The fields are poorly maintained and often times they are covered in lime as a result of the latest soccer contest. Located on Hillendale Road in Chadds Ford, shockingly, these fields are hardly worth the trip. It is located close enough to Chadds Ford Elementary School (Route 1) to make a ride to that location a more viable option.
Robert Watkins is former investment professional and partner. He coached Cal Ripkin Baseball and tournament ball for six years. He lives with his family in Glen Mills, Pa., and is a frequent contributor to Yahoo! News.
