The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners were questioned about Lindberg Park field use during the May 10 commissioners meeting.

Western Salisbury Fire Chief Joshua G. Wells, acting on his behalf as a coach and not representing the fire department, told commissioners he was denied use for practice on the baseball field at Lindberg Park in western Salisbury by the director of the Salisbury Youth Association.

Wells said he was told the field was reserved for use by the Hamilton Park Athletic Association even though, he said, no teams were on the field when he made the request.

“What is the agreement for use of the Lindberg Park field?” Wells asked.

Salisbury Township Recreation Director Genny Baillie, who attended the commissioners’ meeting, explained the field use.

Baillie said SYA has use of Dodson, Franko and Laubach Park fields exclusively because that is where their equipment is stored. SYA also has access to the school district fields.

Hamilton Park Athletic Association has two fields at Lindberg Park.

Both SYA and Hamilton Park Athletic Association share Devonshire Park fields.

“Hamilton Park has provided a schedule” of use, Baillie said.

Baillie said SYA has not provided a schedule.

“I get repeated requests from adults” for use of the fields, Baillie said.

“I can drive around and the fields are empty,” Wells said.

“It’s an issue: How do we maximize the use of fields, not only for SYA, but publicly?” Baillie said. “It’s hard, but we do need to manage it.”

Baillie said she and Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich and Salisbury Township Director of Public Works John Andreas have met to discuss the matter “with the objective to make the fields more available” to all residents.

“Right now the issue is: Who can use the fields?” Baillie said.

“It’s been an issue that we’ve had for years,” Baillie said.

“You’re asking for this information and you don’t get it?” board of commissioners’ Vice President Debra Brinton asked.

The fields generally are in use by April 1, but practice is preferred to begin in March, Baillie said.

“Once those games start, they’re not available,” Baillie said.

“I would like for our fields to be used by Salisbury residents,” Brinton said.

Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus, director of the SYA basketball program, said Salisbury High School and Salisbury Middle School provide schedules for everyone.

Ziegenfus said SYA basketball must provide the district with their game schedules for use of the school’s courts.

“It’s an opportunity for you to require them to give you a schedule,” Ziegenfus said.

It was pointed out that outdoor athletic contests must sometimes be rescheduled because of inclement weather.

It was also mentioned that use of township athletic fields is subject to scheduling for league competition.