A youth sports group would like to see the ball fields at the Stoney Ridge Park and Recreation Center in Lower Towamensing Township in better shape.

Eric Yuknek, president of the Bowmanstown Palmerton Baseball and Softball Association, met with township supervisors on Tuesday.

Supervisor Michael Takerer said that the township previously had an agreement produced but he doesn’t believe it was ever executed.

Township solicitor Jim Nanovic said the township wanted to redo the agreement.

Yuknek noted that due to safety reasons, the larger field is currently unplayable.

He added that as of January, the group had $3,000.

However, he said that one tri-axle load of dirt for the infield cost $800 (to pick up), and that the field would require between three to four such loads of dirt “which we could not afford. We were hoping to try to find a way to fund that.”

Takerer said, “We’d certainly like to figure out (a means of) getting those fields playable.”

Yuknek said they’re able to use the Tee-ball field, but haven’t used the concession stand for the last two years.

He added that for the future, they’d like to get it all up and running.

It was noted that everyone has to be out of there by noon, which township resident Angela Farrell said was a necessity due to the hall rentals.

Yuknek then asked the board if it was possible to have only Tee-ball games at 3 o’clock on Sundays.

Farrell then asked Yuknek if their organization has reached out for funding. Yuknek said they have.

Nanovic asked Yuknek how long the large field has been unusable.

Yuknek said they haven’t played a game on it since 2022.

Last month, supervisors approved an estimate in the amount of $800 from Creekside Consultants LLC for replacement of an on-lot sewage disposal system at Stoney Ridge Park and Recreation Center.

It’s for the completion of a design plan for replacement of an on-lot sewage disposal system for the recreational facility.

At that time, former Supervisor Brent Green, who currently serves as code enforcement officer, said there never was an agreement.

Supervisor Jay Mullikin said at that time he’d like to see an agreement signed if they intend to use it.

Nanovic then suggested at that time to have the township send them a letter to ask if they wish to use the field and meet with the supervisors.

The topic of reactivating the township’s recreation board was also broached.

Green said that the board is basically an advisory board to the township, but that in the past, it was a very active group.

The building is now used as a recreation center at Stoney Ridge. Its 27 acres were sold to the township in 2001 by the Knights of Columbus.