Northern Lehigh School District has been granted permission to use Walnutport’s softball field.

On a 4-0 vote, with one abstention, borough council on Thursday approved the district’s request.

Councilwoman Jen Wentz abstained from the vote. Council members Harold Greene and Patrice Hunsicker were absent.

Before the vote, council heard from Brian Filchner, president of the Walnutport Playground Association.

Filchner said he recently met with Northern Lehigh School District Athletic Director Bryan Geist and Director of Operations Christopher Mann.

Together, Filchner said they worked out a plan for the Northern Lehigh softball team to use the field.

He said the team can use the field for its practices and games from March 3 through April 16.

Practices would be from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8. to 10 a.m. Saturday. The games would start at 4 p.m. and be done by 6 p.m., which is in times for the youth teams to come on the field for practices.

But, come April 16, Filchner said the team must cease using the field.

From that point, he said the team will move its practices and games out to Eagles Nest Park in Slatington.

Filchner said the Northern Lehigh girls varsity softball team will return to Walnutport’s softball field at 7 p.m. May 5 for its senior night game, which has been a tradition for over 20 years.

Borough council had previously tabled the matter on several occasions.

In October, council President Michael 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 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 had 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 had 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 85 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.

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.

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.