(April 13, 2017) The Berlin Parks Commission discussed the following items during a meeting at town hall last Tuesday.
Ongoing projects
Commission member Mike Wiley said Stephen Decatur Middle School students would return to Stephen Decatur Park on May 9 to help prepare an area for planting. Students, as part on the ongoing “Edible Forest” project, assisted Wiley with a similar effort in November.
Blueberries, chokeberry and daikon radish have already been planted in the area in the park, opposite the playground. The town council approved the project in October 2015. Assateague Coastal Trust oversees it.
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen, the commission liaison, said there was not much news on installation of new bathrooms at Dr. William Henry Park. The town signed a contract with a vendor in February with a five-month window, she said.
Less certain, according to Bohlen, are renovations of the tennis courts at Stephen Decatur Park. Initial budget estimates have ballooned, and Bohlen said it could be a tough sell for inclusion in the fiscal year 2018 budget. She said the cost was significant and cautioned the entire project could be put on hold.
Bohlen said there was a small chance grants would be available through the Maryland Community Parks and Playgrounds program, but the application process takes about a year.
Berlin Falls
Members of the commission asked about installing a temporary sign at Berlin Falls Park. Wiley said visitors have difficulty locating the area, and that he often gives directions using the landmark of the adjacent towing center.
Commission member Patricia Dufendach inquired about the possibility of holding yard sales or flea markets on portions of the park. Northside Park in Ocean City, she said, regularly rents out tables for $15.
“It’s a great property [and] we’re always looking for ways to use the property,” she said. “It’s a potential source of income for us.”
Bohlen cautioned the endeavor was likely an exhaustive one and would require significant staff support. Former Berlin Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day, she said, runs a similar operation in Salisbury.
Ongoing projects
Commission member Mike Wiley said Stephen Decatur Middle School students would return to Stephen Decatur Park on May 9 to help prepare an area for planting. Students, as part on the ongoing “Edible Forest” project, assisted Wiley with a similar effort in November.
Blueberries, chokeberry and daikon radish have already been planted in the area in the park, opposite the playground. The town council approved the project in October 2015. Assateague Coastal Trust oversees it.
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen, the commission liaison, said there was not much news on installation of new bathrooms at Dr. William Henry Park. The town signed a contract with a vendor in February with a five-month window, she said.
Less certain, according to Bohlen, are renovations of the tennis courts at Stephen Decatur Park. Initial budget estimates have ballooned, and Bohlen said it could be a tough sell for inclusion in the fiscal year 2018 budget. She said the cost was significant and cautioned the entire project could be put on hold.
Bohlen said there was a small chance grants would be available through the Maryland Community Parks and Playgrounds program, but the application process takes about a year.
Berlin Falls
Members of the commission asked about installing a temporary sign at Berlin Falls Park. Wiley said visitors have difficulty locating the area, and that he often gives directions using the landmark of the adjacent towing center.
Commission member Patricia Dufendach inquired about the possibility of holding yard sales or flea markets on portions of the park. Northside Park in Ocean City, she said, regularly rents out tables for $15.
“It’s a great property [and] we’re always looking for ways to use the property,” she said. “It’s a potential source of income for us.”
Bohlen cautioned the endeavor was likely an exhaustive one and would require significant staff support. Former Berlin Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day, she said, runs a similar operation in Salisbury.