ZY Pyrotechnics, owned by Zach Yeager, attended the Feb. 27 meeting of the Northwestern Recreation Commission to give a presentation about fireworks for Night in the Country.

Although Celebration Fireworks has already received the bid for the 2013 event, the presentation was an educational experience for the members.

Several said they now understood more about fireworks than they had previously.

ZY Pyrotechnics will be able to bid for next year's display. Two favorable things in the presentation is the company will not need local help setting up and, because part of their displays are hand-fired, more fireworks are available for the same amount of money.

The Northwestern Youth Athletic Association will have its annual cleanup on March 23. The season opening parade and program will be on April 27.

Todd Leiser, Northwestern Youth Athletic Association president, brought pictures of some tables and benches they would like to buy with the grant that has to be applied to the lower playground.

Jim Hughes, maintenance, suggested just getting one to see if it is durable, but those familiar with the construction say the tables are lasting.

The rec commission ordered three at a cost of $2,670, leaving approximately $530 in the grant.

Don Link said some concrete and 2-foot by 4-foot benches were donated.

Jason Zimmerman, activities director for the Northwestern School District, is attending a conference on game scheduling and will bring the information to the March meeting.

Heidelberg Township Roadmaster Ken Huber asked if lights could be put in the Potato Barn, which the township rents.

There were lights there and may be reinstalled if the owner is agreeable.

Leiser said his keys are not working in the concession stand. Hughes will take the locks to the hardware store and have them checked and repaired if needed.

He asked for a cindered walking trail around the perimeter of the fields. This would be a second trail in addition to the one on which the distances are marked.

Boys baseball, with a few girls, has 27 teams for more than 300 players.

Softball has 16 teams for 150 girls.

Dan Terrell said there are more than 360 members of soccer teams, and lacrosse has 60 players.

The park is beyond capacity, said Leiser. Some of the fields in outlying locations are in such bad shape they can no longer be used.

Kempton renovated its fields and the NYAA is trying to build a relationship and perhaps use those fields.

Link said the relationship with the NYAA has improved. He is waiting to see the change it makes in high school sports when kids who have gone through the rec program get to that age.

Member Justin Smith asked if there is a strategic plan for increasing the number of fields, but there is not.