The lines on the parking lot are faded and should be repainted, said Don Link at the start of the recreation commission walk-around on March 25.

The annual event is to see what needs fixing on the recreation fields.

The lights, which are used in the fall so the soccer field can be used longer in the evening, had not been put away.

Dan Terrell of the Northwestern Youth Athletic Association said they should have been stored by Thanksgiving and that they would be moved that day.

Justin Smith, Lynn representative, said aeration will help the areas with poor topsoil by mixing the soil.

A bench was found in the creek. Jim Hughes, maintenance, will remove it. A dead goose was laying near the lower playground. More mulch will be placed around the equipment.

The water at the Lions Pavilion will be turned on at the middle of April. The Lions sign on the pavilion is fading and should be replaced in the next year or two.

In the winter, drivers use the fields across the creek to do doughnuts.

Don Link, president, mentioned the possibility of putting a gate at the creek crossing. Smith said the gate being taken off the back driveway at Ontelaunee Park may fit.

Terrell said the soccer goals on the lower fields are old ones that do not have the balance of newer ones. He asked if they could be donated to some other club.

A new baseball field at Lyon Valley Road and Route 863, Weisenberg Township, should be ready for spring use.

PPL said it will not move the wire over the field closest to the road in the fields across the creek.

Someone will talk to them again because the field is being used more. Terrell said it could be used as an overflow.

Presently soccer uses Ebenezer and Ontelaunee fields but wants to give them a rest.

Todd Hernandez, school representative on the commission, said it is a possibility as a lacrosse field for the girls.

Boys have established fields and would not be interested. Link said they have to be careful not to get conflicts in scheduling.

Terrell said the NYAA could take over the scheduling. Hernandez said it should be talked about at NYAA and then brought to the commission. Jim Hughes said the older kids could use the field for practice.

Smith asked if the commission still wants to buy additional land. He said now is a good opportunity to raise money for expansion.

The Natural Lands Trust acquires land and prices go down for such uses. A narrow strip of land added across the creek would provide room for four fields.

Cracks in the basketball courts remain a problem. The person who was asked to repair them seems to be trying different materials to see how they hold up.

Water gets in the cracks and it freezes, said Danny Funk, NYAA softball.

Hughes said it was easy to see where the wind comes from because there is a lip on the creek side of the volleyball court.

He will get courser sand that will not be as affected by the wind. Smith said the court is more enjoyable and safer since the wood frame was taken out.

The grant for trees has to be used by spring, said Smith. The remaining ones will be along the walking trail.

Field 5 has a drainage problem as do some of the others. Several ways were suggested to slow it.

Link pointed that out rabbits have apparently taken up baseball as there were plenty of tracks on the field.

Smith said he thinks Lynn Township just bought a leaf vacuum which would make it easier to clear leaves during the cleanup.

Hughes will try and break up the lips around some of the fields. Field 3 was discussed as possibly being made five feet bigger, but later enlarging other fields was discussed. Funk said another field might be better because there is more open space around it.

A new net for the top of the backstop on field 2 is necessary. There are many tears in the one that is there.

Link said he would like more permanent batting cages, similar to the one near the building. On that one he would like the net to be lower to the ground because it would break the pressure of balls hitting the chain link.

Hughes said the cost for a pedestrian gate in the fence where vehicles enter and leave during Night in the Country would be $80.

Equipment at the upper playground needs to be painted. It was suggested the same person who painted lower playground equipment be hired because he did a good job.