Former Philadelphia Phillies star Chase Utley joined city and school district officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday at the newly refurbished Union Terrace baseball field.

The Allentown School District received one of just four nationwide $50,000 grants for the field from Major League Baseball and the Scotts Lawn Care company. Allentown’s was one of nearly 350 applications.

Utley, a standout on the Phillies’ 2008 World Series champions and 2009 National League champions, will formally retire tonight during a ceremony at Citizens Bank Park.

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