Township Accepts Aerator Donation from Local Youth Groups

At the July 11 regular meeting, the township accepted the donation of an aerator machine to assist the Parks and Recreation department in the maintenance of township athletic fields.

An aerator either uses spikes or another mechanized instrument to gouge small or large holes in the soil for the purpose of maintaining the integrity of the turf.

Various youth sports groups in Upper Moreland have pooled together to raise funds to purchase and donate an aerator to the township.

Presenting the aerator dontation request to the township at the June 27 Parks and Recreation Committee meeting was William Oetinger, who represented the youth groups.

At this meeting, Parks and Recreation director Pat Stasio informed the committee that the township currently spends $1,700 to $2,200 twice a year (spring and fall) on renting such equipment, depending on rental time.

“This will show us great savings,” Stasio said at the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting. “It will be used for all sports fields all over the township.”

This statement also follows certain conditions that the youth groups requested of the township, now that the township has accepted the aerator donation:

• The township must aerate all township-owned athletic fields at least twice a year.

• The Parks and Recreation department would continue its current maintenance program of at least five applications annually (three fertilization applications, herbicide and pesticide applications).

• The department will continue its practice of seeding once a year in the fall.

Not included in the conditional agreement will be the maintenance of atheletic fields on Upper Moreland School District property, as the township does not own that property.

According to Stasio, a single aerator may cost up to $9,000.