By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
It started with a search for an estimate for landscaping on the Boro Bombers baseball field behind the Hillsborough Promenade, and turned into a long-term agreement for maintenance with Fairway Green Inc., of Hillsborough.
”(Boro Bombers Coach) Kevin Sluka had contacted us for an estimate,” said Robert Windish, president of Fairway Green, which does fertilizing, weed control and other lawn care projects. “We said this is a great idea. We wanted to get publicity and give back to the community.”
From this, was born a plan for Fairway Green to renovate and maintain the field over the long term.
According to Mr. Windish, his company in taking part in a Nationwide Day of Service, held this year on Earth Day April 22, and which is sponsored by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). As a member of PLANET, Mr. Windish said his company wanted to take part in this event that provides free landscaping services to local towns.
The purpose of the day of service is to provide an opportunity for professionals in the lawn care and landscape industry to carry out projects specifically designed to benefit their communities. The partnership with the Boro Bombers, Mr. Windish said, was a great way to honor the day of service, while taking it a step further.
”We are all doing this for the good of the community,” Mr. Windish said. “We are trying to take a proactive approach.”
Throughout the month of April, workers with Fairway Green have spent time at the baseball field aerating, seeding and fertilizing the land, and will continue to do so in the coming months.
Before the work began, Mr. Sluka said, the outfield was always covered in rocks, which made playing there difficult. Each year, before the season started, he said, they would have to spend time cleaning up the rocks.
”We hope the seed gets established to make it a safe environment to play on,” he said.
The field itself was built by Hiland Construction of Hillsborough in 2007, and the team is preparing to begin its third season there.
”But this landscaping work is above and beyond the scope of what the municipality helps with,” Mr. Sluka said. Fortunately, Fairway Green was all too willing to take on the job. “They volunteered to do the work. I guess this was good timing.”
Since the company started the work, Mr. Windish said, the color of the field has changed as more greenery is growing and much of the rocks and dirt have been cleared away.
”The color (of the field) is a lot different now,” he said. “As long as they want us, we’ll continue the services for years to come.”
In addition, Mr. Windish said, the company will provide six different lawn care treatments, especially for weeds and insects, and will also do lime treatments to help the soil better use the nutrients that goes with fertilizer.
”We will have to monitor the field (in the future),” he said. “We will water it a couple times a week.”
Mr. Sluka said the work will have to be done again in the fall.
But for now, Mr. Windish said he is happy to be able to help the community with this free service.
”The work is fairly time consuming, (but) giving the kids a nice field is something great,” he said.

