Salisbury Township Recreation Director Genny Baillie provided a report on the summer playground program at the July 17 recreation advisory committee meeting.

Baillie said the attendance is good and up approximately 10 percent from last year.

Although there have been some challenges such as a tree which fell at Laubach Park on first base of the softball field just as Head Counselor Pat Jacoby was headed there for a soccer clinic, Baillie said the program has been going well. The movie night was also well attended.

A concern raised by Baillie and Jacoby involved other people playing side by side on the fields with the participants in the summer playground program. These are groups playing who have not registered with the township.

“All staff and members of public works are required to have clearances,” Baillie said. She further explained there are others playing on the basketball courts right next to the playground program kids and those folks probably don’t have clearances.

“Should the parks be closed 9 a.m. to noon during the playground program because of clearances?” Baillie asked.

Jacoby raised another issue regarding township equipment use during the playground program.

“If someone not registered in the program gets on a merry-go-round, counselors back away. We don’t push kids whose parents haven’t signed waivers,” Jacoby said.

Baillie said it is the same situation when the counselors and kids use township equipment as part of the playground program. “We try to keep non-registered kids from playing games using our equipment.”

In park reports, Frank McCullough, although not in attendance, provided a note saying the Sugra Memorial Plaque at Lindberg Park is not visible due to overgrown plants. Baillie said she will talk to the public works department about this.

Mark Wilson asked for a status on the proposed birdhouses and birdbaths at Lindberg Park. Baillie said there was a concern about the materials proposed being durable and the placement of the birdbaths. The students spearheading the project have been directed to the environmental advisory committee.

The committee also discussed the tennis courts at Devonshire Park, calling them “a disgrace.”

The grass is growing up in the courts and there are several holes in the fence. “Something has to be done,” Baillie said.

“This should be prioritized,” Frank Adamcik said.

Saying the tennis courts at Lindberg Park get used a lot, the thought was if Devonshire Park tennis courts were fixed, the high school team could practice there and free up the Lindberg Park courts for residents.

“Residents get pushed if high school students are using the Lindberg Park courts,” Baillie said.

Adamcik also said the northwest side backboard needs to be repaired or replaced at Laubach Park.

In new business, the committee will make park tours Sept. 11 and 25 as part of their duties on the committee. The list of items will then be given to the public works department.

The next recreation advisory committee meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 in the township municipal building.