Heron Park considered for designated site to resolve issue of safety downtown

By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Feb. 4, 2021) Berlin’s elected officials began discussing the concept of a skate park years ago as one way to resolve the safety issues with skateboarders downtown, and now the Berlin Police Department has voiced its support.

Police Chief Arnold Downing

Police Chief Arnold Downing said local children need a safe place to skateboard and that there has been an influx in complaints regarding skateboarding. With many children engaged in remote learning during the pandemic, they have more idle time to skateboard. However, there isn’t a designated space for skateboarding in town.

Currently, a remedy is for Berlin officers to confiscate skateboards. When children and their parents come to the department to retrieve the skateboards, they’re advised of the law, which states they cannot skateboard on state roads or downtown.

“I think every one of the young people understand the law for sure now, but they still have the question of, ‘What can we do and where can we do it,’” Downing said. “And we’ve made the commitment, we’ve said we’re willing to go ahead and put up funds if they want to use Heron Park or any other designated place that someone starts a program.”

He added that the town could pursue grants for the park.

“The police department has the first $1,000,” he said. “We’ll go ahead and ask the businesses downtown to go ahead and help support any program that will go ahead and bring forth safe activity for our children. We support the Little League, we support youth football. We support all those. We can do the exact same thing with the skateboard situation.”

Councilman Jack Orris began the discussion about a skate park during the Town Council meeting on Jan. 25

“I know it’s a tough situation, the parents are at a loss. Kids just want to have fun and be kids and it’s no secret that we’ve been talking about a skateboard park for years, but ultimately safety is our number one responsibility,” he said.

Mayor Zackery Tyndall suggested creating a map where skateboarding can be done in town currently. He also recommended the town contact the group that previously offered pop-up skateboarding activities at Heron Park. Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director, said last Friday that the group and town staff are discussing the

ALLY LANASA/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing told the Berlin Mayor and Council on Jan. 25 that the police department would contribute funds for a skate park at Heron Park on Old Ocean City Boulevard.

matter.

Tyndall added during the Town Hall meeting that metrics about skateboarding and bicycling could help the town if it sought funding in the future for a skateboarding facility.

Responding to Councilman Jay Knerr about the cost of a skate park, Downing said the town has contacted Ocean Pines and Ocean City about their parks in the past.

“My big thing is don’t let the numbers scare you,” he said. “All kids need is a trash can and a ball, and they can have fun. Understand that concept. If they have the place to do it, and they have the support system, they can get a lot of things done.”

Councilmember Shaneka Nichols commended the police department for its support of children’s activities and its efforts to ensure a safe place for children to skateboard.

Councilman Troy Purnell expressed his support of a skate park and said Heron Park would be the ideal location.

“I know there’s a whole lot of underground local momentum that really wants to see something happen,” he said.

Purnell added that the skate park could be built in phases.

“Yeah, it’s going to take some money and we’re going to have to determine a space for it, but I think it’s definitely necessary,” he said. “There’s more young kids in town than I’ve ever seen in my life … Skateboarding is a good thing, not a crime. Put them in the right spot, it’s a great thing to have.”

Resident Tony Weeg, who has been pushing for a skate park since moving to Berlin almost three years ago, said hearing that the police department supports the project validates his effort.

“One of the things we were missing is a skate park and one of the things we have a lot of are skaters,” he said in an interview on Jan. 29. “There’s a lot of space for it, but there’s nothing set up for it.”

Weeg added that he helped fund nearly $10,000 over three years for the skate park in Salisbury.

“The beginning stages of a skate park really involve a good partnership between the town and the skaters,” he said. “First thing we need is just the space where we can skate and not get in trouble, and then from there, we’ll blossom and grow just like a farm does.”

Once Weeg finishes setting up his nonprofit, We Love Berlin Inc., the police department will contribute $1,000 for the incremental skate park project.

Purnell is expected to contribute a small ramp from the Dew Tour in Ocean City to the park.

Private donations and grant funding will also drive the project.

“I plan on using the social networks to build this and to let it grow through word of mouth,” he added.