A local youth football organization is giving new meaning to the expression "one for the record books."

That is because the Thomas Jefferson Youth Football group is relying on a 1884 court ruling about a border dispute between then-Jefferson Township and South Park Township to resolve a similar border dispute which stands in the way of the group building two new football fields.

The nonprofit volunteer organization, made up of 200 players age 6 to 13 who play flag and contact football, wants to build on 15 acres of a vacant site on Hough Street, across the creek from the Broughton Fire Hall in South Park.

That creek, said the youth group's Don Housley in seeking preliminary land development approval from the Jefferson Hills Planning Commission on March 24, was ruled the municipal boundary in 1884.

That means the proposed site lies in Jefferson Hills, said Mr. Hosley, of Jefferson Hills.

During the meeting, commission member John Wallace said "you don't become a state champion unless you practice from a baby up," referring to Thomas Jefferson High School's 2007 state football title.

About 90 percent of those players played TJ youth football.

In the end, the commission granted preliminary approval for development, contingent upon the land lying within borough boundaries and not in South Park.

Mr. Housley will next present the documentation to borough engineer Ruthann Omer, who will report the findings to borough council. Council is expected to vote on the application at its meeting at 7:30 p.m. April 14.

If preliminary approval is granted, grading can begin.

The 1884 ruling by a judge of the Quarter Session, now called the Court of Common Pleas, was discovered by land surveyor Howard Hartman, who was contracted years ago by the property's owner, Harry Neel, to survey the site. Mr. Neel, of Pleasant Hills, signed a 25-year agreement with the youth football organization in January that permits it to lease the property for $2 a year.

"We have this land that is not being used. We will be putting it to good use," Mr. Neel said.

"It kinda makes you feel good to have kids using it," he said.

The $1.2 million project would be financed through grants and fund raising. A state Department of Community and Economic Development grant for $50,000 for engineering and design services has already been secured.

The organization would extend the road into the site, and construct a 142-space parking lot.

The two regulation-sized football fields would have synthetic and natural surfaces, and would be owned by the boosters club.

A seven-member commission would be in charge of day-to-day operations.

Troy Baxendell, of Pleasant Hills, the coordinator of the football organization, said the group hopes to have the fields built by August.

The teams currently practice at no charge on the former Roosevelt Elementary School site of the Dick Corp. in Large. But with the company's pending move to the South Side, there is no telling how long that site will be available, Mr. Baxendell said.

First Published: March 27, 2008, 10:00 a.m.