Josh Davis, Associate Editor (Oct. 12, 2017)

The Berlin Parks Commission discussed the following items during a meeting at Town Hall last Tuesday:

Formal addresses

For the first time, Stephen Decatur and Dr. William Henry parks were given formal street addresses. Decatur Park, on the south side near the playground and walking path, is 130 Tripoli Street and the north side, near the nature trail, is 131 Tripoli Street. Henry Park is 123 Flower Street. Committee members discussed sign options and committee Chairman Mike Wiley, a former firefighter, said the formal addresses would help emergency services personnel.

Project updates

Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen, the staff liaison to the committee, provided several project updates during the meeting. Bohlen said there was no news on the edible forest at Decatur Park. The project had been a collaboration between Stephen Decatur High School and Assateague Coastal Trust, but the nonprofit recently backed out because of lack of funding. “I have a feeling that is … gone,” Bohlen said, referring to the project’s likely demise. She also said there was no update on the arrival of permanent restrooms for Dr. William Henry Park. The restrooms had been paid for, largely with grant money, but manufacturer delays set back delivery several times. Bohlen said she hoped to have an update soon and was “holding the manufacturers’ feet to fire a little bit.” A pre-bid meeting for new tennis courts at Decatur Park was held last Wednesday. Bohlen said bids would be opened on Oct. 20. “We will see where we go from there. It all comes down to budget,” she said.

Berlin Falls update

Berlin Falls project coordinator David Deutsch briefed the committee on the interpretive park plan Conversation Community Consulting presented to the Town Council last month. He said many of the recommendations in the plan were “more reasonably achievable” than those in other studies, because of the relatively low cost. Deutsch said the study focused on the environmental aspects and stewardship of the park. Deutsch said a list of potential funding partners, provided at the end of the report, meant development “would not have to rely on town funding for all things in study.” When the study was made public, Bohlen said some incorrectly assumed the document was a finalized plan by the town. She cautioned the study was simply an interpretive plan for potential, passive uses. “A few folks commented on Facebook with things like, ‘I don’t see a skate park!’” she said. “This is not the end [of park development].”