Whether Northern Lehigh School District can use Walnutport’s softball field has yet to be settled.

After a brief discussion, borough council on Thursday tabled the district’s request.

Council President Michael Gaston said neither the school district, nor the playground has gotten back to him since their last meeting.

In October, Gaston said he had conversations with Northern Leigh School District Superintendent Dr. Matthew J. Link.

That came after council in September discussed the school district’s request to use the Walnutport playground softball field while the district’s softball field is under construction.

The request is only for the 2025 season, according to a letter dated Sept. 4 from Link and district athletic director Bryan Geist.

The letter said the district is seeking a field to be used for spring 2025, and that “the obvious choice was to reach out to the Walnutport Playground Association.”

The district has requested a 3 to 5 p.m. practice slot on the softball field when all winter weather conditions resolve, and would adjust to the needs of Walnutport teams.

The district has also requested a 3:45 p.m. first pitch for softball games, or a 2:45 p.m. field access, and added that varsity and junior high softball games average one hour, 25 minutes per contest.

Renovations to Northern Lehigh School District’s athletic field complex are ready to take shape on the near $2 million improvement project.

On an 8-0 vote, the school board in September approved the change order for the baseball and softball complex renovation to include softball outfield underdrain alternate, flagpole installation, and complete renovation of the softball outfield including regrading, sodding of softball and baseball outfields, and relocation of each field’s scoreboard at an additional cost of $218,856.

Brian Filchner, president of the Walnutport Playground Association, said at September’s Walnutport Borough Council meeting it’s his understanding that the Northern Lehigh baseball team will play its home games at Bryfogle Park in Walnutport.

Gaston questioned why the district’s request to use the borough’s softball field couldn’t be accommodated.

Filchner explained that they have nine teams with 105 boys and girls on the field by 5 p.m.

Filchner said he was going to suggest that Northern Lehigh softball look to Eagles Nest Park in Slatington as an alternative since organized baseball/softball youth teams haven’t used those fields for several years.

Councilwoman Patrice Hunsicker said she was “stumped” that nobody’s using Eagles Nest Park since it’s in such good condition.

Filchner said he didn’t want to interfere with the youth teams’ schedules.

Filchner added that the varsity softball team would play to 10 games at the borough’s softball field, while the junior high team would play nine games there.