Lindberg Park Batting Cages Almost Ready

Members of the Hamilton Park Athletic Association told the Salisbury Board of Commissioners recently that the installation of batting cages at Lindberg Park should be completed by early April.

The batting cages, which will be located adjacent to the tennis courts, will carry a cost of less than $5,000, according to HPAA member Mark Wilson.

"It's hard to say what the final cost will be, because we're still choosing a vendor," Wilson said. "We have a lot of volunteers, which will lessen the cost, and we coordinated this with the township. We're also in a position where we can fund this."

Wilson told commissioners that the targeted grand opening of the new batting cages is Monday, April 8. Before then, the association will work with the township to finalize materials lists, design details and schedule the actual work.

Estimates are that work on the cages will be completed by Sunday, April 7.

The cages will be available to all HPAA youth baseball and softball programs and for public use during open times, Wilson said.

"More people will be able to take advantage of the cages, as they will be used by organizations, recreation and residents of Salisbury Township," Wilson said. "It's something that's been nestled there and could've been done before."

The HPAA is purchasing and installing the batting cages, which incurs minimal cost to the township. In addition, there will be no additional administrative or maintenance costs, as any manitenance would be done by the HPAA.

Volunteers would erect the batting cage nets each March and take them down and store them in November, Wilson said.

Wilson noted that the new batting cages will gives local recreation teams more efficient use of practice time and make conditions much safer than full-field batting practices.

The cages are made of polyethylene netting, which will be erected between 10 poles that are cemented into the ground. The 120-foot footprint will match the width of the existing tennis courts.