Due to the likelihood of overflow parking and increased traffic caused by home Bishop McDevitt football games which last year resulted in congested parking and traffic conditions on Swatara Township roadways and in the Chatham Glen neighborhoods adjacent to North 61st Street, Swatara Township Police will again be working with Lower Paxton Township Police to make the venue as safe as possible for pedestrians, motorists and residents of these neighborhoods to travel to and from the games.

The 2015 Home Varsity Football Schedule is as follows:

Friday, September 11, 2015         7:00 p.m.             Steelton-Highspire
Friday, September 25, 2015         7:00 p.m.             Mechanicsburg
Friday, October 2, 2015                  7:00 p.m.             Hershey
Friday, October 9, 2015                  7:00 p.m.             Susquehanna Twp.
Friday, October 23, 2015               7:00 p.m.             East Pennsboro (Homecoming)
Friday, October 30, 2015               7:00 p.m.             Red Land (Senior Night)
Friday, November 6, 2015            7:00 p.m.             Lower Dauphin

As a result of conditions historically created due to traffic congestion and parking conditions Swatara Township Police officers will be on patrol as time allows along North 61st Street and in the Chatham Glen and greater Rutherford Heights neighborhoods to enforce the PA Motor Vehicle Code and parking ordinances.

As the intersection at North 61st Street and Page Road leading down to Bishop McDevitt Way is in Lower Paxton Township, the Lower Paxton Township Police Department will staff that intersection with a Police officer before and after games to assist with traffic flow in and out of the venue and along North 61st Street.

A study of the surrounding Chatham Glenn community by Police staff, Administrative staff and the Highway Superintendent coupled with an analysis of the conditions we experienced during home games has resulted in the decision to make a change to what was done last year.  As a result the following limited measures will be implemented:

By my order, Temporary No Parking restrictions will be placed on both sides of Chatham Glenn Way North (North and south sides) beginning at its intersection with North 61st Street and ending at the entrance to the first culde-sac entrance to Woodlyn Court.  In addition, the intersection of  Chatham Glenn Way North and Glenn Drive will also be posted No parking.

Fans and residents should know that the over-riding purpose for these two restrictions is public safety. We need to ensure that these intersections are as open as possible for heavy traffic and most importantly that emergency vehicles such as police, fire, and EMS are able to respond into these neighborhoods. 

Fans and visitors to our Swatara Township neighborhoods should also understand that any vehicles that are parked blocking private driveways or who are parked in violation of any Township parking ordinances will be ticketed and in some cases towed at the owner’s expense. Fans and visitors should also be respectful of private property. Trespassing, littering and criminal mischief will not be tolerated.

Due to the large crowds expected at some of these games pedestrian and vehicle traffic will exceed the infrastructure needed to support it. This will cause delays and inconvenience getting to the game and home from the game.

Prior to the game and after the game I am asking all motorists to use extreme caution as you traverse the local roads around the venue. Motorist who are not attending the game or who don’t live in the area may want to avoid the Derry Street, North 61st Street, Page Road and Union Deposit corridors as it will be extremely congested.

As the Chief of Police responsible for the safety of all citizens and visitors to Swatara Township I want to warn all fans that walking along and crossing North 61st Street (State Route 3017) is dangerous and I ask that persons do not attempt to walk along this road due to its narrow shoulders, limited sight distances and poor lighting. If you must cross North 61st Street to access the campus, I recommend that you do so at the entrance to Spring Creek Road where it intersects North 61st Street.

We ask for everyone’s patience and cooperation as the Swatara Township Police try to keep the venue and our neighborhoods as orderly and safe as possible. Any additional questions may be directed to me at (717) 564-2550.

Thank you,

Chief Jason D. Umberger