Lower Towamensing Township officials is planning to set a meeting with Bowmanstown Palmerton Baseball and Softball Association to discuss needs at the fields at Stoney Ridge Recreation Center.

Supervisors last week reviewed the association agreement, which includes a date for the organization to have a schedule to the township, as well as infield mix that they can’t afford.

Supervisor Michael Takerer said he could empathize with the organization.

“I understand their concerns,” Takerer said. “They say the fields are basically not playable.”

Supervisor Jay Mullikin said he believes that if the township is providing labor and assisting the group, then they should provide the township with a price tag.

Regardless, Takerer said he supports the organization. “It’s hard to get kids outside these days.”

Takerer added there are likely grant applications for the organization to pursue.

The board will contact the organization to see if members can make it to next month’s meeting.

In September, Erik Yuknek, president of the Bowmanstown Palmerton Baseball and Softball Association, met with township supervisors.

At that time, 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 2024, 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 it can’t afford.

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

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.

In August, 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.

The design plan would be 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.

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

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.