(Sept. 14, 2017) Jeep Jam will not return to Berlin Falls park, Mayor Gee Williams said last week, although he would love to find a home for the popular annual event elsewhere in the town.
“It was the last year [at Berlin Falls]. That was the agreement,” Williams said. “It went very well and I’m very optimistic that they’ll find a location in the Berlin area — not within the town limits, but within the immediate Berlin area — that will allow this portion of the event to continue.”
Williams said organizers enjoy having the annual satellite of Ocean City Jeep Week in Berlin, because it gives attendees access to the shops and restaurants downtown.
Jeep Jam organizer Chris Cropper raved about the town during a recent council meeting, adding the event enjoyed record attendance this year.
“They’ve given us every indication … that they would much prefer to be in the immediate vicinity of Berlin,” Williams said. “They’re not going 40 miles away.”
Williams also addressed detractors of Jeep Jam, who claimed the thousand-plus jeeps that rolled over the property impeded development of the park.
It is, admittedly, a muddy happening that requires several weeks of cleanup, although organizers perform that work at no cost to the town.
“We didn’t mind extending it one more year, because we knew the studies wouldn’t be done and we wouldn’t be actually underway in doing anything other than basic remediation,” Williams said. “Now, we’re going into a different phase. I know everyone is anxious to see things started immediately, but it’s more important that we thoughtfully move ahead than that we quickly move ahead.”
He said recent receipt of several studies, including a microbiological evaluation and cost analysis to remediate the lagoons and rehab the main building on the property, took some of the guesswork out of the type of developments that were possible at Berlin Falls.
“The passive uses are much more obtainable in terms of our financial resources and the resources of our partners than some of the others. Other uses will require some financial gifts to the town,” Williams said. “Some things will happen because they are our priority and our plan to happen — other things will happen because someone stepped forward and said ‘I want this to happen for the community and I’m willing to support it.’”
He said an advisory committee on park development, made up of citizens and public officials, would be in place by October at the latest.
“I want to make sure that, when I recommend the group to the council, that it’s a diverse group of people who bring a variety of skills who can get this opportunity off to the best possible start,” Williams said. “And the charge of the advisory committee may evolve over time, because there are so many potential uses.
“This is a generational opportunity, therefore I want people to think about what we can do in the immediate years … and what are some things that might take five-to-ten years, and what can we be planning down the road so the younger generation, when they become adults and are responsible for the community, can continue to build on,” he added.
“In the beginning, I think the most important thing is to be optimistic, opportunistic and open minded,” Williams said. “This town did not get to where it is by running around and seeing how many doors it could shut.”
“It was the last year [at Berlin Falls]. That was the agreement,” Williams said. “It went very well and I’m very optimistic that they’ll find a location in the Berlin area — not within the town limits, but within the immediate Berlin area — that will allow this portion of the event to continue.”
Williams said organizers enjoy having the annual satellite of Ocean City Jeep Week in Berlin, because it gives attendees access to the shops and restaurants downtown.
Jeep Jam organizer Chris Cropper raved about the town during a recent council meeting, adding the event enjoyed record attendance this year.
“They’ve given us every indication … that they would much prefer to be in the immediate vicinity of Berlin,” Williams said. “They’re not going 40 miles away.”
Williams also addressed detractors of Jeep Jam, who claimed the thousand-plus jeeps that rolled over the property impeded development of the park.
It is, admittedly, a muddy happening that requires several weeks of cleanup, although organizers perform that work at no cost to the town.
“We didn’t mind extending it one more year, because we knew the studies wouldn’t be done and we wouldn’t be actually underway in doing anything other than basic remediation,” Williams said. “Now, we’re going into a different phase. I know everyone is anxious to see things started immediately, but it’s more important that we thoughtfully move ahead than that we quickly move ahead.”
He said recent receipt of several studies, including a microbiological evaluation and cost analysis to remediate the lagoons and rehab the main building on the property, took some of the guesswork out of the type of developments that were possible at Berlin Falls.
“The passive uses are much more obtainable in terms of our financial resources and the resources of our partners than some of the others. Other uses will require some financial gifts to the town,” Williams said. “Some things will happen because they are our priority and our plan to happen — other things will happen because someone stepped forward and said ‘I want this to happen for the community and I’m willing to support it.’”
He said an advisory committee on park development, made up of citizens and public officials, would be in place by October at the latest.
“I want to make sure that, when I recommend the group to the council, that it’s a diverse group of people who bring a variety of skills who can get this opportunity off to the best possible start,” Williams said. “And the charge of the advisory committee may evolve over time, because there are so many potential uses.
“This is a generational opportunity, therefore I want people to think about what we can do in the immediate years … and what are some things that might take five-to-ten years, and what can we be planning down the road so the younger generation, when they become adults and are responsible for the community, can continue to build on,” he added.
“In the beginning, I think the most important thing is to be optimistic, opportunistic and open minded,” Williams said. “This town did not get to where it is by running around and seeing how many doors it could shut.”