King of Prussia Soccer Club

Letter to Upper Merion Area School Board

Upper Merion Area School Board

435 Crossfield Road

King Of Prussia, PA 19406-2363

Dear School Board Members:

The King of Prussia Soccer Club (KOPSC) is writing to express its deep concern with, and opposition to, the recent proposal to construct tennis courts on the existing soccer fields at James Baxter Park, located at 650 S. Henderson Road. KOPSC has been a part of the Upper Merion community for 61 years and has called Baxter Park its home for more than 24 years. With nearly 700 registered players in Fall 2023 season alone, KOPSC runs Spring and Fall intramural teams from age 3 through 8th grade and offers a competitive league with boys’ and girls’ teams from U8 (age 7) through U19 (age 18). KOPSC runs Fall and Spring seasons at Baxter Park with practices and games beginning in August and running through November, and then again beginning in March through June each year. Additionally, KOPSC runs an annual tournament, Baxter Blast, that brings 50 registered teams to our fields over a weekend in the summer and also offers summer training camps. The tennis court plan underestimates the impact to the soccer programs. 

The KOPSC has a rich history that dates back to its founding in 1962 by James Baxter. Originally established as a small community-based soccer organization for the children of the Upper Merion community to play "the beautiful game,” the Club has grown over its 61 years, becoming a prominent and well-respected force in the local soccer scene. The majority of our players attend the Upper Merion School District but the club’s superior reputation also attracts players and volunteers from neighboring communities. KOPSC is proud to say many of its players also play for the Upper Merion Middle School and High School teams.

James Baxter Park serves as a crucial hub for the ongoing operation of KOPSC. To understand what this space means to the Club, one only needs to look to Baxter Park itself. As a club utilizing a Township park dedicated to soccer, KOPSC contributes to the day to day physical operations at Baxter Park facility through an agreement with Upper Merion Township including building and field maintenance, and regular ongoing improvements. KOPSC joined the Township and School District for the initial construction of the clubhouse, made irrigation system improvements, and has assisted with replacement of field light bulbs. During the Upper Merion High School construction, numerous high school teams also shared the space and KOPSC happily provided enhanced upkeep to address the additional wear and tear that the extra teams brought to the fields. The KOPSC Board has increased the Club’s expenditures the past two years and plans for an additional increase this budget cycle to further revitalize Baxter Park heading into the 2024-2025 season.

Baxter Park is a special place that allows the Club to flourish for our community players. Baxter consists of three competitive fields, each specifically sized for 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11 play, consistent with league requirements. Additionally, four recreational fields positioned at the ends of the competitive fields support the many teams in our intramural division. On a typical Fall Saturday, KOPSC’s Developmental Academy games are played from 9:00 AM to noon followed by the Competitive Academy program hosting seven to ten games over the rest of the day, beginning at noon and ending as late as 8:00 PM. During the seasons, you will find players on every field at Baxter, Monday through Thursday from 6:00 PM -7:30 PM with our older players often practicing until 9:00 PM. 

The fields are where the games are played but the lights, clubhouse, and available parking allow for the players to come together with their families and friends day in and day out during our seasons. The clubhouse includes a meeting room that often serves as a classroom for our players, allowing for off-field discussions about game play but also to reinforce good sportsmanship and teamwork. The classroom space also helps facilitate our volunteer referee program that helps train as many as 100 youth volunteers each season. KOPSC is proud to have received an award from Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association for this program. 

Our volunteer staffed concession stand is also located in the clubhouse and is the Club’s largest individual fundraiser, raising $9,000 in 2022. These funds directly support the Club’s programs as well as field maintenance and allow us to keep program registration as low as possible for our players. The concession stand’s success relies on players, families, and spectators (including away teams) being at the field. Reducing the available fields or requiring games to be played at different locations would significantly reduce the Club’s onsite programs and the ability to generate concessions revenue.

KOPSC continues to be a driving force in the local soccer community, with a strong commitment to excellence in coaching, player development, sportsmanship, and community engagement. The current tennis court proposal does not consider the negative impact it would have on KOPSC’s facilities and programs. In fact, the proposal documents and discussion do not appear to acknowledge James Baxter Park or Baxter Fields at all, only requesting the feasibility of six tennis courts within the “athletic field area” of Gulph Elementary School and referencing that the property is currently leased by Upper Merion Township.

The KOPSC has a long history in the same community the Upper Merion Area School Board serves and wishes to thrive in this shared community for generations to come. Converting any part of Baxter Field to tennis courts would disrupt our programs and cause logistical challenges including limited ability to provide evening practices and games, increased costs for our families, and the logistical challenges that come with spreading our coaching and equipment resources to multiple locations in the community.

KOPSC hopes that as members of the Upper Merion Area School Board, you will consider the significant impact this proposal would have on our players and the community we serve. We urge you, along with over 600 members and alumni of the King of Prussia Soccer Club who signed the attached petition, to reconsider and explore alternative solutions that do not compromise the existing infrastructure and programs at Baxter Field. We welcome the opportunity to further discuss our programs and the importance of Baxter Field to our continued success. 

Thank you for your time and attention. We look forward to working together to ensure the preservation of our shared community’s soccer legacy.

Sincerely,

KOPSC Board