The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners has said “Batter Up!” to the plan by the township Recreation Advisory Committee for placement of the Franko Farm Park batting cage.

Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to approve the request from the Salisbury Youth Association to install a temporary batting cage at Franko Park along the third base line, including necessary help from the township Department of Public Works.

Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich noted representatives of the SYA and recreation committee had met on site and met previously with Salisbury Township Director of Public Works John Andreas concerning the location.

“They went over several locations and came up with the approved location, which is along the third base line,” Bonaskiewich said. Site preparation work was to be done by township Public Works employees.

“Due to safety concerns, we believe that this is the best location,” Board of Commissioners President James A. Brown said.

Township Commissioner Debra Brinton made the motion, seconded by Commissioner James Seagreaves, to bring the matter to a vote at the May 25 township meeting.

Frank Adamcik, vice chair of the Salisbury Township Recreation Advisory Committee, brought the matter to commissioners at the March 9 township meeting.

The batting cage location is temporary because it must be moved if and when improvements are made as part of the William H. Laubach Memorial Park and Franko Farm Recreation Area Park Master Site Development Plan.

Adamcik had met with Leonard J. Policelli, landscape architect, project manager, Urban Research & Development Corp., Bethlehem, consultant for the master plan, at Franko Park, located along Black River Road.

Joel Schware, Lehigh Valley League baseball director for SYA, has said SYA is paying for the cost and maintenance of the batting cage.

In other business at the May 25 meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve: the preliminary-final Land Development plan, as recommended by a 7-0 vote at the township Planning Commission April 11 meeting, for Knopf Automotive, 3401 Lehigh St., for an addition to the building. A requirement to plant shade trees was waived, with the stipulation that Knopf agreed to donate $2,250 to the township for planting of trees in township parks. Board of Commissioners Vice President Robert Martucci Jr., made the motion, seconded by Brinton, to bring the resolution to a vote.

At the May 25 township meeting, Commissioner Joanne Ackerman voiced concern about activities at Green Acres Park.

“Here it is summer and we’re having problems at Green Acres Park. Now we have a fist fight and they chase each other right in front of my house,” Ackerman said.

Ackerman, who has lived in the area 43 years as of June, said, “It’s escalating. They start nailing each other on somebody’s lawn.”

“How do you stop something like that?” Brinton asked.

“Take away the basketball courts,” Ackerman said, who in previous years has recommended removal of the basketball courts.

Ackerman, who lives near Green Acres Park, said she was walking her dog at 3 p.m. in the afternoon when she saw a man urinating in public.

Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles said police department officers regularly patrol the area and respond to calls received.

At the April 27 township meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve:

•A preliminary-final land development plan, as recommended by a 7-0 vote at the township planning commission April 11 meeting, for Scott Volvo, 3333 Lehigh St., for an addition to the building. A requirement to plant shade trees was waived, with the stipulation Scott agreed to donate $6,250 to the township for planting of trees in township parks.

•Submission of a Keystone Communities Program grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, authorizing Bonaskiewich to fill out the required documents, for Phase 4 of the Lindberg Park Master Site Plan Development Project. The township hopes to receive $75,000, an amount that would be matched by the township.

The project includes installing two safety drop-off zones in the parking lot, converting two parking lot islands into a rain garden, upgrading and renovating a playground sprinkler pad, installing a double pickleball court, rehab a garden area into a Tranquility Garden with native plants, build a new maintenance-free shelter and a large rain garden.

•Payment No. 2, the final payment, of $78,364.26 to Joao & Bradley Construction Co. for the Potomac Street Water Main Replacement Project and the Trout Creek Interceptor Sanitary Sewer Relocation Project.