By Greg Ellison

(July 15, 2021) The Berlin Parks Commission vetted high-dollar projects for a pending grant application and future funding consideration through Program Open Space during its meeting last Tuesday.

Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen said grant applications for FY23 Department of Natural Resources’ Program Open Space funding are due by Aug. 26, with award notification anticipated next summer.

“It takes such a long time to come to fruition,” she said.

In a return to past practices, Worcester County asked town officials to submit a prioritized development plan, or “wish list,” of projects for Program Open Space funding consideration. Berlin last completed the document in FY20.

“The county has not required this of us in the last few years,” she said. “But, it’s still a good tool for us to use to look at our projects.”

In 2019, Berlin officials considered installing lighting for basketball courts in Henry Park, but eventually opted to head in another direction.

“The mayor and council wanted bathrooms at Stephen Decatur Park moved up so that’s what we applied for and are waiting to hear back now,” she said. “Henry Park basketball court lighting has been on the list for several years.”

Bohlen suggested with funding anticipated in the state’s FY 22 budget to install pre-fabricated bathrooms at Stephen Decatur Park, the lighting project in Henry Park could now be deemed top priority.

“Lighting at the basketball courts in Henry Park would be just like at Stephen Decatur,” she said. “It would only be available for certain hours.”

Commission member Patricia Dufendach said Berlin parks are largely underutilized from dusk until dawn, outside of illuminated tennis courts in Stephen Decatur Park.

“It really does expand the ability to use those courts in the wintertime when it gets dark at 5 p.m.,” she said.

Bohlen said since the basketball lighting project was last reviewed several years ago, construction costs have spiked, with current estimates around $125,000 for the upgrade. Lighting costs for FY20 were anticipated to be roughly $114,00.

“It’s been on the list for so long,” she said.

Other projects considered include twin proposals promoted by local nonprofit We Heart Berlin to build a skate park and install ping-pong tables at Burbage Park.

Dufendach concurred with the skate park suggestion, albeit with reservations.

“It’s a big ask for this small town,” she said. “I’m sure it could be done if somebody brings $100,000 to the table and says, ‘Lets get it started,’ but it takes a lot of money.”

After beginning organizational meetings earlier this year, We Heart Berlin established the “Berlin Skate Park,” GoFundMe page in February, which thus far has garnered roughly $2,000 of a $500,000 benchmark.

Bohlen said an ideal skate park location remains open to conjecture.

“People have suggested Stephen Decatur Park,” she said.

Bohlen noted the site is also envisioned for a pending disc golf course proposal, which could create space conflicts.

“We could put it on the list without a location,” she said.

Other spots proponents have discussed include Heron Park, although at this time development plans for the site remain unknown.

Bohlen suggested skate-park funding estimates should include a small sum to hire an outside consultant for site assessments.

Commission member Sarah Hooper said town officials have employed comparable tactics when developing big-ticket park projects in the past.

Commission Chair Mike Wiley said more information would be helpful.

“We don’t know what areas we have to play with,” he said.

We Heart Berlin’s second proposal vetted by the commission was a ping-pong setup at Burbage Park on Williams Street.

In similar fashion to its skate park campaign, We Heart Berlin also established the “Berlin Outdoor Ping Pong Park,” GoFundMe page in February, which to this date has raised more than $1,300 of a $25,000 fundraising goal.

Bohlen said based on earlier conversations with Natural Resources officials, projects involving new offerings tend to gain support faster than replacing aging equipment.

“They did tell me they like new projects,” she said.

Dufendach noted the town might be able to find other grant streams besides Program Open Space.

Bohlen said a large percentage of state and federal funding is intended for low- or moderate-income areas.

“There’s some truth to the statement that there’s grant money out there for everything, however, Berlin is a slightly too affluent community to access many of those funds,” she said.

Parks Commission members voted unanimously to recommend Henry Park basketball court lighting for the Program Open Space grant application due next month, while also listing ping-pong tables at Burbage Park and the skate park proposal as future funding priorities on the “wish list” with Worcester County.

Bohlen said funding recommendations would be submitted to Mayor Zach Tyndall and Town Council for final approval at its July 12 meeting.

“They may have a different swipe at it,” she said.

To donations to the Berlin Skate Park, visit gofundme.com/f/2a8hnpodlc?member=8777888&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer.

To donate to the Berlin outdoor ping pong park, visit gofundme.com/f/we-heart-berlin?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet.