Once a South Philly Staple, Bocce Sprouting Up in 'Burbs

Bocce is a leisurely game that can be enjoyed by both young and old, and some suburban Philadelphia towns are embracing it with open arms.

The click of the balls drew KYW's Jay Lloyd to Skippack Township, Pa., where in a sprawling Skippack park, a baseball diamond lives side by side with a gracefully sculpted pavilion devoted strictly to bocce.

What is that, you ask?

"It's basically like horseshoes with balls."

Paul Greco has been playing since he was a kid. Once the province of well seasoned Italian men in city parks, bocce has seriously expanded -- even to soccer moms.

"Absolutely. There's no gender bias in this game at all."

Suburban bocce is being played in leagues, competitively and recreationally. Towns are chipping in the for clay courts to meet the demand. Among the popular sites are ones in  Norristown, Bridgeport, and Skippack.

(photo by KYW's Jay Lloyd)