Good Morning Brian,

I believe Public Works Manager Bill Lanza spoke with you yesterday regarding this request. I was the President of CW Youth Baseball for two years and also had a son in the program for 4 years along with being on the Board of CW Youth Soccer, so I have an additional insight into how the clubs are operated and field use/upkeep. In short, the registration fees collected by these clubs are to cover various items such as referees/ump fees, equipment and field upkeep. The club has used fields in Marion Twp, Robesonia Borough, Wernersville Borough and South Heidelberg for years and in each case, prior to the season the club would organize field prep day or days in which volunteers would gather and get the fields ready. The club volunteers would order infield dirt (if needed), do any weed removal on the infield, drag, roll the field, etc. Additionally with both soccer and baseball we would budget to have the fields treated with a weed solution (I believe McConnel was the company used at the time). After that the coaches/parents/kids would continue to maintain the field throughout the season, line it, drag it, plug the bases in/remove them, etc. The Township pays to mow/weed whack the fields as well as handles the trash removal. I have also attached an agreement which was executed with the baseball club (we also have one with soccer) that states the responsibility of keeping the field clean and maintaining the field falls on the club and that as a result there is no charge for use of the field. I also have a letter from the the club facilities manager at the initiation of this agreement (not sure who that person is now) with that as well and will attach that letter as well in a separate response. The Township is submitting grants for a recreation study with the hopes of getting that funding and then addressing the overall recreational areas within the Township and I have spoken with Kevin Bender as well as the other clubs about this effort as there are improvements that are needed to recreation in the Township and we are working on that. Thank yo.

Here is the letter from the baseball club facilities manager stating weed and feed will be done by the club. The club as part of its registration fees should be budgeting and arranging volunteers to help address the fields. As a former President and Coach/parent we would tackle these fields and go one by one with other parents to get them ready before the start of the season.

Will review.

Thanks for the response and time. I wouldn't know any of the folks involved with the Baseball that far back when it was signed, but only sent this out because I have been with the parents (son 8 and daughter 11) working on the fields and this particular one needs much more Diamond Tex and more dirt brought in to make it right. Like the Township (Bill stated), we don't have the equipment or resources to really do that. Kevin has tried to get things worked on through school, but I had seen the list and there are so many other issues and priorities for the Baseball teams right down to the lawn tractor they move around to try and drag the fields (it has no brakes, I used it). I think Covid times were the last straw on the field issues and condition without out it being refurbished in a sense. I think most maybe wouldn't say much about it, but if the field were totally fixed, the baseball folks could keep it in good shape through the spring, summer and fall season. We would just need help making it "right" if that were something the township would consider.

Brian, I am reviewing this and Bill Lanza is getting some quotes together relating to field dirt and treatment of the grass areas. I was out at the field this morning and took a look. I will follow-up once I get those quotes from Bill. I will chat with our Board and see what can be done to help. Thanks.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration on this.

Bill Lanza will order 12 tons of field dirt and have it delivered to field. Bill Lanza will also weed spray the field prior to dirt delivery. CW Baseball club will be spreading and dragging the field post weed treatment/dirt delivery.

Thank you very much. Great support for the community and kiddos playing sports. A lot of families really appreciate it.