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Williams calls for ‘reboot’ of Heron Park goals

RACHEL RAVINA/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Members of the Heron Park Advisory Committee discuss new ideas for the facility on Old Ocean City Boulevard with Berlin Mayor Gee Williams during a meeting last week.

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(Sept. 26, 2019) Faced with an empty bank account for Heron Park, Berlin Mayor Gee Williams last Thursday told the park advisory committee a “reboot” of goals and projects is needed to get the park back on track.

“We still own the property. That’s our responsibility,” Williams said.

Williams addressed advisory committee members to offer some direction on how to proceed, adding that they should take a realistic approach to fixing up the park.

Formerly known as Berlin Falls Park, Heron Park was closed for roughly six weeks while Chesapeake Environmental Services cleaned up a spill of a caustic chemical, sodium hydroxide, on the property in late June. The cost of cleaning up that spill, which occurred during the demolition of some buildings on the property, drained the park’s budget.

Advisory committee member Amy Field said she was unsure how to proceed.

“If we’re supposed to be the idea factory … for the property, I mean how much more can we do right now without a means to do it?” Field asked.

Williams said it’s important to “make the park as inviting as we can given [the] financial limitations.”

Committee member Roger Fitzgerald requested that they explore the idea of having a solar farm somewhere on the roughly 60-acre property.

Committee members also discussed the possibility of getting artistic signs, and painting a mural on the side of the old Tyson plant by including Stephen Decatur High School students.

“I love the idea of getting the high school involved,” Fitzgerald said.

Berlin resident Marie Velong also urged members to work to beautify the park’s entrance on Old Ocean City Boulevard.

“There’s no reason to even think there was a park back there,” Velong said.

To draw attention to the facility, advisory committee members had planned to hold seasonal activities, including a bonfire and a bird watching event.

The bonfire was scheduled for Sept. 21 at the site, but the advisory committee cited safety concerns as a reason for canceling the event.

The birding event was slated for Jan. 18, but the possibility of that happening is unclear as Managing Director Jeff Fleetwood said “the park as of right now is closed.”

Berlin’s Town Council moved to indefinitely close the park in a 3-1 vote during a meeting Monday evening. Councilman Dean Burrell was the sole dissenter.

“This whole enterprise [is] much more challenging than I ever could have imagined,” Williams said.

Williams said he believes the town will have spent about $280,000 on the clean-up process after all is said and done.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Environ- mental Protection Agency are conducting an investigation on the incident.

Fitzgerald asked about the possibility of filing a civil suit against the contractor involved. While Williams said that was “one of the options,” he said it would largely have to do with the investigation’s findings.

“All I’m saying is any attempt to recover our costs will be based on what MDE and the EPA. tells us,” Williams said.

Fitzgerald also asked Williams if there were any other chemical tanks on the property.

“No, there’s nothing,” Williams said. “Listen, that place has been gone over with a fine-tooth comb now both with MDE and the EPA.”