The expansion of an athletic complex just south of Berlin is at the top of the county’s approved list of Program Open Space priorities for the coming fiscal year.
A map shows the planned expansion of an athletic complex just south of Berlin.
Courtesy map
By Steve Green, Executive Editor
The expansion of an athletic complex just south of Berlin tops the county’s approved list of Program Open Space priorities.
Worcester County Director of Recreation and Parks Kelly Rados asked and received the blessing of the Worcester County Commissioners last week to submit the county’s fiscal year 2025 Program Open Space Annual Program before the July 1 deadline for review by the Maryland Department of Planning and Department of Natural Resources. Once the overall plan is submitted and approved, individual applications for the projects on the list can then be submitted for funding.
Last week’s approval was more of a formality as the commissioners offered no comments and approved the local projects without discussion. Program Open Space is divided into acquisition projects and development projects.
The only acquisition project on the county’s stated goal is the acquisition of additional Berlin Lions Club property off Route 113. According to the plan, “The proposed project consists of the acquisition of approximately 6 acres of property located next to the county owned Northern Worcester Athletic Complex in Berlin … The additional 6 acres to be purchased is comprised of undeveloped land that adjoins the 12-acre parcel that Worcester County recently purchased from the Berlin Lions Club. The proposed property is currently farmland that will be used to expand ball fields and parking.”
Approximately $500,000 is listed as the price to secure the property to allow for the further expansion of the recreation complex.
Listing in the development aspect of the plan is further improvements estimated at $100,000 to the Northern Worcester County Athletic Complex and Lions Club development. The plan reads, “The current Berlin Lion’s Club property has 6 baseball/softball fields and a permanent concession stand. The baseball/softball fields need numerous repairs and or replacements. The project being requested will be to hire an engineering firm to master plan the entire facility to include baseball/softball fields, trails, playgrounds, site amenities, and other recreation features. Once master planned, development of the recommended plan will take place to include any and all recreation and site amenities needed.”
Also included in the development project list was replacement of the playground at Showell Park off Route 589 ($500,000), upgrades to the Northern Worcester County Athletic Complex bathrooms and concessions ($200,000) and rip rap replacement and repair at Homer Gudelsky Park in West Ocean City off Harbor Road ($50,000).