(July 27, 2017) For the first time in several years, the Town of Berlin will receive funding from Program Open Space, a state program administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
During a Town Council meeting Monday Night, Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said the town would receive $20,000 – about 7 percent of the $279,270 it requested, but still something.
Program Open Space funds are given to the counties, which can then decide to allocate or hold the money.
Bohlen said the funding would be used to improve the tennis courts at Stephen Decatur Park.
“It’s obviously fortunate that they’ve allocated those $20,000. Unfortunately, $20,000, when it comes to park projects, is not a lot of money,” Bohlen said. “However, it will help us in the completion of the tennis courts project, which already has funding allocated, $215,000, from the Community Parks and Playgrounds program.”
The Community Parks and Playgrounds grant comes via Program Open Space, but is only available directly to municipalities.
Bohlen said the tennis court project was the only one in the parks program that could be reasonably completed within the grant timeframe, which has a deadline of July 2018.
This year, the town also requested Program Open Space funding to buy and install prefabricated bathrooms at Stephen Decatur Park ($126,270), buy and install lighting for the basketball courts at Dr. William Henry Park ($54,000), and to establish a small aesthetic space on William Street to be called John Howard Burbage Park ($49,500).
Also in the request was $40,500 for benches, picnic tables and trashcans at Berlin Falls Park, and $9,000 to expand the tot lot at Stephen Decatur Park.
In March, Bohlen said it was unlikely the town would receive any assistance from Program Open Space.
“Those funds, as with so many things, have substantially decreased over the years and the county has not been able to allocate to the municipalities in quite a while. But, we all keep hoping that that will change,” she said at the time.
On Monday, Berlin Parks Commission Chairman Mike Wiley said the commission has long been in favor of rehabbing the tennis courts. He said conditions there were poor and joked it was a wonder tennis players who do use the courts don’t come away without sprained ankles.
“We’re totally in favor of it and I think it will be a big asset,” Wiley said.
The Town Council voted unanimously to approve an application to use the Program Open Space Grant for the tennis courts.
“Maybe it’s a sign that the financial picture for all of that kind of support is at least moving in the right direction,” Mayor Gee Williams said. “It’s small, but it’s better than nothing.”
During a Town Council meeting Monday Night, Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said the town would receive $20,000 – about 7 percent of the $279,270 it requested, but still something.
Program Open Space funds are given to the counties, which can then decide to allocate or hold the money.
Bohlen said the funding would be used to improve the tennis courts at Stephen Decatur Park.
“It’s obviously fortunate that they’ve allocated those $20,000. Unfortunately, $20,000, when it comes to park projects, is not a lot of money,” Bohlen said. “However, it will help us in the completion of the tennis courts project, which already has funding allocated, $215,000, from the Community Parks and Playgrounds program.”
The Community Parks and Playgrounds grant comes via Program Open Space, but is only available directly to municipalities.
Bohlen said the tennis court project was the only one in the parks program that could be reasonably completed within the grant timeframe, which has a deadline of July 2018.
This year, the town also requested Program Open Space funding to buy and install prefabricated bathrooms at Stephen Decatur Park ($126,270), buy and install lighting for the basketball courts at Dr. William Henry Park ($54,000), and to establish a small aesthetic space on William Street to be called John Howard Burbage Park ($49,500).
Also in the request was $40,500 for benches, picnic tables and trashcans at Berlin Falls Park, and $9,000 to expand the tot lot at Stephen Decatur Park.
In March, Bohlen said it was unlikely the town would receive any assistance from Program Open Space.
“Those funds, as with so many things, have substantially decreased over the years and the county has not been able to allocate to the municipalities in quite a while. But, we all keep hoping that that will change,” she said at the time.
On Monday, Berlin Parks Commission Chairman Mike Wiley said the commission has long been in favor of rehabbing the tennis courts. He said conditions there were poor and joked it was a wonder tennis players who do use the courts don’t come away without sprained ankles.
“We’re totally in favor of it and I think it will be a big asset,” Wiley said.
The Town Council voted unanimously to approve an application to use the Program Open Space Grant for the tennis courts.
“Maybe it’s a sign that the financial picture for all of that kind of support is at least moving in the right direction,” Mayor Gee Williams said. “It’s small, but it’s better than nothing.”