ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. Field Day takes place on the fourth full weekend in June. More than 35,000 radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.
The Marple Newtown Amateur Radio Club traditionally holds its Field Day event at Drexel Lodge Park just off West Chester Pike (Route 3) in Newtown Square (see map). The club's call sign for Field Day is K3MN.
The pavilion at Drexel Lodge Park offer ideal cover from the June sun or occasional rain storm while the abundance of trees is optimal for the placement of a number of wire antennae.
Antennae are launched high in the trees with the help of this massive air cannon fabricated by our very own member, W3JG. See the air cannon in action here.
The pavilion offers numerous large tables on which to install radios, tuners, amplifiers, and whatever else is required. It also provides shelter from the sun and from potentially adverse weather.
Trees everywhere help with the most optimal placement of numerous wire antennae.
Field Day
Coming to Drexel Lodge Park? Use Google Maps above or Apple Maps to find the park at this address:
4140 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square PA 19073
If you cannot use one of these modern mapping marvels, here is some generic guidance:
Find Interstate 476. Coming from Philadelphia via the Schuylkill Expressway or from the PA Turnpike, take Interstate 476 south to exit 9. Coming from Philadelphia or Delaware or anywhere else via I-95, take Interstate 476 north to exit 9.
At exit 9 from I-476, head west on PA-3 also known as "West Chester Pike." Follow West Chester Pike west for approximately 4.5 miles to "Campus Boulevard." It's about 1.4 miles west of the center of Newtown Square. You will be close to "Campus Boulevard" when you see some old railroad cars to your left.
At the "Campus Boulevard" intersection, make a U-Turn. As soon as you have turned around, turn into the first driveway on your right -- that's the entrance to Drexel Lodge Park.
If you're coming from West Chester or points further west, take PA-3 also known as "West Chester Pike" east to "Campus Boulevard," 1.6 miles east of the Providence Road intersection in Edgmont. Turn right into the first driveway beyond "Campus Boulevard" -- that's the entrance to Drexel Lodge Park.
West Chester Pike is served by the Septa route 104 bus between West Chester and Upper Darby.