A group that provides recreational opportunities for residents of the Tamaqua Area School District needs support.

West Penn Township resident Jim Dean explained the current state of the Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission to township supervisors Monday morning.

Dean, who serves as the township’s representative on the commission, said the group has “limped along” for the past 1½ to 2 years.

Dean said that despite that, Executive Director Nate MacDonald has done a “great job” overseeing the organization.

“The issue is nonattendance,” Dean said. “This past Wednesday, our meeting was canceled due to a lack of attendance.

“This has been happening habitually. It is disheartening when we’re supposed to be doing this together.”

Dean said that Schuylkill Township previously dropped out of the organization.

He then asked West Penn supervisors to continue to support the ESRC activities of the Tamaqua Area School District.

Board Chairman Tony Prudenti said there was talk about putting up a field house, but it’s been taking them time to get the deed.

Supervisor Tim Houser said he believes a field house-type concept is a “great idea.”

“In order to get some type of building like that for Tamaqua Area School District, we’re going to need cooperation from all the townships and Tamaqua Area School District,” Houser said. “When we joined ESRC, my understanding was they were going to write out the grants.”

Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission was established in 1997.