Berlin Falls Park Coordinator David Deutsch discusses potential developments during a Berlin Parks Commission meeting last Tuesday.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(May 10, 2018) The Berlin Parks Commission discussed the following items last Wednesday during a meeting at Town Hall:

Potty time

Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said the permanent bathrooms at Dr. William Henry Park are in place and operational.

She said the bathrooms would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., although hours may be extended during the summer and reduced during the winter.

Weather, contractor issues and other mishaps delayed the project several months.

“That was a long road, but we finally got there,” Bohlen said.

Tennis update

Bohlen said tennis court renovations at Stephen Decatur Park hit a snag when contractors, working to mill the two easternmost courts, ran into trouble because of substandard materials used when the courts were built.

“Whenever they built those courts, 30-35 years ago, they cut corners … and the asphalt was not naturally bonded to surface,” Bohlen said.

She said several alternate proposals ranged from spending an additional $100,000 to completely remove the old surface, to replacing the two of the four courts with a grass-surfaced area for volleyball.

The Town Council, instead, opted to have contractors mill off an additional inch to inch-and-a-half and replace that with new asphalt.

“What the end result is going to be is that the two courts are going on slightly different levels, but they’re going to grade it in such a way that … it’s just going to be a smooth surface,” she said. “They’re also going to do something to improve the drainage in that area.”

Clean Up wrap up

About 40 people participated in the recent Berlin Clean Up Day, Bohlen said. The annual event engages volunteers to spruce up town parks for summertime.

She said turnout was unusually low at Stephen Decatur Park, but unusually high at Henry Park. Additionally, about a half dozen volunteers assisted at Berlin Falls park.

Bohlen said middle school students did some planting behind the multipurpose building on Flower Street, and another group would remove invasive species surrounding the natural trail at Decatur Park.

Berlin Falls

Berlin Falls Park Coordinator David Deutsch said the Berlin Falls Park Committee narrowing its focus on potential developments so it can draft recommendations for the mayor and Town Council.

“There’s a lot of different notions swirling around,” Deutsch said, including an outdoor amphitheater and YMCA.

“All of those questions are still being mulled over with the committee,” he said. “We’ll keep you posted.”

Youth program

Austin Piccarreta, youth programs coordinator with Worcester Youth and Family Counseling, said she recently toured Worcester Technical High School.

She said boys in the youth program were particularly drawn to the crime-scene lab, while girls were interested in the cosmetology, culinary and nursing programs.

Piccarreta also talked with girls in the program about cyber security and sexting laws.

“That was a major eye-opener,” she said. “I had a few of them come back to me two weeks later and said someone was talking about sending pictures, and they were like, ‘No – you can get in big trouble for that!’

“I was excited, because [the lesson] really stuck,” Piccarreta continued. “I’m going to do the same group with the boys in two weeks, so we’ll see how they respond.”

Piccarreta said the annual Pirate Party at Sunset Grille, a major fundraiser for Worcester Youth, is scheduled for May 18 from 6-9 p.m.

Tickets are $49 and include two drinks. The rain date is June 1.