After eight months of construction and more than a decade of dreams, Chief’s Stadium and Community Park, the Methacton Baseball Association’s new home in Trooper, officially opened March 31.

The stadium, consisting of three baseball diamonds on 18 acres of the former Downes Farm, as well as a playground, is named for Francesco A. Mascaro, whose nickname was the Chief and who co-owned the J.P. Mascaro and Sons waste management company with his brothers before his death in 2013.

The Mascaros purchased and donated the land for the playing fields and park, and the extended family turned out for Saturday’s dedication ceremony, welcoming the community and paying tribute to the stadium’s namesake.

“He loved life. Life loved him. He embraced life. Life embraced him,” said company President Pat Mascaro, pictured at right, Francesco’s brother. “If he were here today, he would love these fields, because he loved children.”

Guests gathered in an open tent for prayer, speeches and the presentation of the colors by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 349. Then they moved over to the central diamond, where Theresa Louden Benedetti gave a soulful rendition of the national anthem.

Pat Mascaro’s son Pat Jr., who first broached the idea for the baseball fields 15 years ago, threw out one of four first pitches, along with James Lee Mascaro; Mike McDougal, a former major league pitcher who married into the Mascaro family; and local legend Bobby Wine, a 50-year resident of Lower Providence who played shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1960s, winning a Gold Glove in the process.

“This is gorgeous,” Wine said after the ceremony. “This is a better field than some of the minor league fields I played in coming up. That’s no lie.”

Wine knew Francesco Mascaro for many years, even helping him score Phillies tickets on occasion, and he complimented the Mascaro family on its community spirit.

“They do so much for the township and the people around here,” he said. “They are just unbelievable when it comes to helping the community out.”

Although the day was sunny, the fields were still wet from recent rains, and opening day Little League games were canceled. Sports seemd to be forgotten, however, at least for the moment, as young players in their bright, new uniforms, joined their parents for a lunch catered by Collegeville Italian Bakery.

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