Members of the Salisbury Township Recreation Advisory Committee met Sept. 21 via Zoom.

Chair Mark Wilson, Vice Chair Patrick Jacoby, Secretary Kimberly Ringhoffer, Frank Adamcik and Recreation Director Genny Baillie were on the Zoom call; Francis J. McCullough attended via telephone.

Jacoby and Ringhoffer had no advisory reports.

Wilson said he walked around Lindberg Park and said overall the park looks great. He noted there were many people there and basketball was busy. Wilson suggested having public works personnel double check the openings in the split rail fencing. He also suggested additional “No Dogs” signs are needed as he saw a small dog inside of the fence. He also noted the mesh fencing past third base is pulled away and could be a hazard. Wilson took photos and will send them to Baillie.

“The perimeter trail is great. I’m thrilled to see everyone is using the park,” Wilson said.

Adamcik said basketball is being played at Laubach Park. Some people are kicking the soccer ball around on the fields. Salisbury Youth Association football and soccer did not play this season. He mentioned SYA is trying to get a discount from the insurance company.

McCullough said there are always people at Green Acres Park – sometimes five or six people and sometimes 25-30 people. He said people are following the park rules. He checked the shed again and found inappropriate graffiti. He took photos of the damage and submitted them to Baillie.

Baillie updated the committee and said the graffiti had been cleaned and the gutters had been cleaned out Sept. 21. The public works department will look to finish the rest as soon as possible.

It was announced Green Acres Park will have pickleball once the budget is discussed. There will be a fence installed for the people’s protection. The committee said an 8-foot fence would be needed.

“We are going to do what is best for the township,” Baillie said. “It has not been budgeted yet – it will be discussed in August [2021] at the budget meetings.

McCullough noted at Lindberg Park bike riders are coming in from the street level and there aren’t any signs there. He said riders are racing on the trail.

The commissioners did make it that the bikes are allowed on the perimeter trail, Genny said.

McCullough said there needs to be control on the bikes. He believes additional signage is needed. He also suggested an additional bike rack where riders can lock their bikes.

Bikes are not allowed on the inside of the fence.

“It is dangerous for the bikes to be racing on the trail,” McCullough said.

During the township report, Baillie said the administration is working on the township calendar for 2021. The committee will put together photos from the different parks for the month having to do with the Recreation and Advisory Committee. Typically it is June coinciding with the playground program. Jacoby will look in his files to see what photos he has for the township calendar.

McCullough asked when the committee would be meeting in person. Baillie said there is no update on in-person meetings.

Residents around Green Acres Park are complaining about people playing basketball.

“Parks are public,” Genny said. “They are funded by taxpayers all around the state. We have seen a lot of activity. Residents are appreciative that our parks are open. Especially younger children who are not in school and being active.”

Baillie said there has been a lot of discussion about the upper court at Green Acres. “We did not put the rims on the upper court because of a crack. Pickleball will be a budget item. In the interim we are going to look to add the adaptive swing and the mom and me swing at Laubach Park, Green Acres Park and Devonshire Park. We are also in short order hoping to get the tennis courts at Laubach Park power washed and ready for pickleball on the east side,” Baillie said. She said the tennis courts at Laubach Park can be used for tennis and pickleball. She is hoping to get that in this year.

In other business, the suggestion of a holiday tree lighting can’t move forward due to COVID-19. Wilson said the committee will try to organize the event in 2021.

The committee will begin talking about the egg hunt in January 2021.

The donated signs have been placed in the parks asking guests to pick up their trash in order to keep the parks open.

Baillie said the signs are at Green Acres Park and Lindberg Park. She said she is not sure the signs have helped that much.

The committee has received compliments about the public works department employees – how nice they are and they are doing a great job.

Nov. 1 is when parks officially close. Billie stopped issuing permits for fields as per the commissioners. She is getting requests 2-3 times a week for people to use the fields.

Baillie said recently at Devonshire Park during an SYA game, people were not following COVID-19 protocols. The umpires and coaches had no masks. Baillie said the players don’t have to wear masks. They are supposed to be spaced out on the bench.

Adamcik said SYA has a COVID director to make sure people are following protocol.

Baillie said she believes the township is still issuing permits for the pavilions. The bathrooms are closed.

It was said Devonshire Park is nice and clean and neat. There is new fencing and new locks on the doors.

The next Recreation Advisory Committee meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16.