Coach Duane Jones of the West Philly Tarheels by Morris Park/Papa Playground, the Tarheels’ home field, which has recently been torn up for replacement work on a sewer under the field. (Photo by Sam Newhouse)

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is currently working on infrastructure improvement projects across the city. But some work has put out a West Philly youth football organization, and their coach is concerned the work will leave his home field even worse off than it already was.

The West Philly Tarheels on the field. (Photo courtesy of the Tarheels)

Coach Duane Jones of the West Philly Tarheels said preseason drills for his Pop Warner football organization are due to start in Morris Park at 66th and Lansdowne – also known as Papa Playground – in March. But ongoing work to repair a sewer running under the field will prevent them from playing there until April at the earliest, if the project finishes on schedule. Jones is also concerned the field, already uneven and prone to divots and instability that have caused more than a few twisted ankles, might be even more unstable after the work.  Continue Reading