Long-term use of tennis courts at Lindberg Park by the Salisbury High School tennis teams has some Salisbury Township officials concerned.

The concerns were raised during the July 10 Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners workshop by Genny Baillie, Salisbury Township Recreation Director.

"They [Salisbury school officials] are looking at this [Lindberg Park tennis courts use] indefinitely. That's what I have a problem with," Baillie said.

Baillie said school tennis teams use may prevent use of the four Lindberg tennis courts by township residents, who use the courts heavily mornings, afternoons and evenings.

"We wanted to help the school district, but we thought it was short-term," said Baillie.

The school tennis teams have been using the Lindberg tennis courts for about three years.

Baillie said she was told by a Salisbury Township School District official school tennis courts refurbishing would cost $1 million.

School tennis teams practice on the Lindberg tennis courts 3 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday from March to May, for boys, and from August to October, for girls.

There are also tennis matches at Lindberg between the Salisbury teams and other teams.

"They can make the argument that they are township residents," noted Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano.

"Not one resident has called me" [to complain about school tennis teams' Lindberg courts use]," Soriano said.

Soriano and Baillie said the township deserves to be compensated by the school district for courts maintenance. The school district was said to be amenable to compensating the township.

"How do we estimate a cost?" asked Commissioner Robert Martucci, Jr.

"I want to have a good relationship with the school [district]," said Commissioner Vice President Debra Brinton.

"They [the school district] have no problem with charging SYA [Salisbury Youth Association, for use of school facilities]." Brinton said.

The township underwrites the SYA annual $15,000 school facilities cost.

On a lighter note, Martucci quipped, "We don't want to be accused of racketeering."