Eagles, VIPs Celebrate Extreme Makeover of Gambrel Field, Home of Pop Warner's Frankford Chargers
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 18 PRNewswire — Cheering Frankford Chargers, a ceremonial stage full of VIPs, a sparkling new green football field, and a beautiful outdoor mural gave a warm welcome to "Invincible" legend Vince Papale, Eagles' Quarterback AJ Feeley, former Eagle DE Hugh Douglas, SWOOP and Eagles cheerleaders to celebrate the dedication of Gambrel Field on a breezy, cloudless Saturday in the Frankford Section of Philadelphia.
It was all part of the finale of "Home Field Advantage," co-produced by Phil Tuckett and Rick Horrow, which will be shown on the Fox Sports Network. The program, hosted by Vince Papale and FSN anchor Laura Okmin, is themed around identifying an American community youth sports facility in a state of extreme disrepair, and remaking it into a top-notch sports center for kids in need. The pilot episode focuses on what was Philadelphia's downtrodden Billy Gambrel Recreation Center, longtime home of Pop Warner's Frankford Chargers, Philadelphia's "winningest" youth football team, and a local force since 1967.
Over its 46 years, the recreation center has suffered through urban blight and lack of funds. Gambrel Field was littered with rocks and glass, the goalposts were lopsided three-inch plumbing pipes, and the turf was creased with the deep treads of trespassing all-terrain vehicles.
Eagles owner and CEO Jeffrey Lurie toured the site earlier this year and pledged support for the project during the Eagles 75th Anniversary Season.
This summer's collaborative victory was the result of the hard work and leadership of the City of Philadelphia, City Council, Fox Sports, Comcast Spectacor and the Philadelphia Eagles. $1.5 million worth of materials, services and human resources were donated by more than a dozen organizations.
Seventh District Councilman Daniel Savage led negotiations with various government agencies and allocated $200,000 from his district capital funding to ensure the project's ultimate success. Over several weeks, installation of a modern AstoTurf field, bleachers, new fencing, goal posts, a state-of-the- art scoreboard and other first-class amenities, transformed the facility for Pop Warner Little Scholars.
Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program (MAP) artists, under executive director Jane Golden, also created a brand new mural for the center in honor of the team's 75th Season Anniversary. The mural was painted by lead artist Peter Pagast with the help of neighborhood youth.
On Saturday, August 18, a dedication ceremony was held with the cast of thousands responsible for the new field. Special guests included Eagles Senior Vice President of Business Operations Mark Donovan; City Managing Director Loree Jones; Department of Recreation Commissioner Victor Richard; and Philadelphia's Second District State Senator Tina Tartaglione. Corporate contributors present were Joel Ralph of Comcast Spectacor; Tom Bock of Bock Construction; Mike Dennis of AstroTurf; and Janet Wischnia of ATD American.
No one was more thrilled that Pop Warner president Jon Butler, whose Frankford Chargers will claim the field as home, and Philadelphia's Billy Gambrel, for whom the center is named.
Following the unveiling of the mural, showcasing images of Gambrel and Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid, was the blessing of the field by local Pastor Richard Smith. The group then convened for the official ribbon cutting. All cheered with joy and animation as they watched the Frankford Chargers youth football team, its cheerleaders and the visiting Rhawnhurst Raiders run on to the new field the very second the ceremonial scissors snapped.
