(Nov. 13, 2014) Berlin residents continued their plea for a recreation facility on Monday, taking over a town meeting to discuss the subject for the third time in three weeks.
Outcry began during a Mayor and Council meeting on Oct. 27, continued during a Parks Commission meeting on Nov. 4, and lasted for more than 40 minutes during the most recent Mayor and Council meeting on Nov. 10.
This time Patrick Truitt, Tres Denk and Beth Gourley approached the council, asking for updates on a possible skate park.
Mayor Gee Williams said the takeaway from the parks meeting was that a temporary location might be more realistic than larger proposals, like the massive Tyson’s Park suggested as a possibility for the former Tyson’s poultry plant property.
“It might take some time and money whereas at least a good, decent but temporary skateboard park would be something that would be feasible and would be able to happen on a much faster track,” he said. “A temporary facility logically would happen a lot faster, and while that is being enjoyed then work towards something that’s permanent and state-of-the-art and adds to making Berlin a destination community. That is always an underlying thought in much of what we do.”
Truitt asked about the often-mentioned strategic planning meetings. The council approved a request for qualifications earlier in the meeting to hire a facilitator for the meetings, and tentative set a start date for January or February.
Williams said the town would send out announcements and press releases, and Town Administrator Laura Allen said the public should have at least two weeks’ notice before the beginning of the meetings.
“Once we get the input then we have to come up with the priorities and the plans,” Williams said.
Williams said the skate park “sounds like a natural” fit for the town.
“I haven’t heard anybody that’s against this idea,” he said. “I think what we want to do is find out how much interest there is, and that helps us figure out where it falls in the wish list.”
Councilmember Lisa Hall encouraged supporters of the skate park to “be creative.”
“Maybe you find someone to let you use some land for a while,” she said. “Maybe we could do a temporary place sooner than later. We’ve just got to get through the holidays right now, choose this facilitator, get these meetings going in January and February. Frankly we’re going to have to be creative like we’ve done with everything else. It’s going to be partnerships and people working together and volunteering.”
Williams agreed.
“Almost everything this town is doing it’s not just the town government,” he said. “We’re here to provide the foundations and the support, but the citizens are the co-creators of everything that I think is making this town cool.”
“In Berlin, the most important people in our town are volunteers,” Williams continued. “We need to keep that in mind as we develop a plan.”
Denk, who said he helped build skate parks in Los Angeles and has volunteered with several area nonprofits, asked for specific guidance.
“Sometimes I think people worry that they’re going unnoticed,” he said. “We want to make sure that you understand [we’re willing] to work with the parks and recs department. We don’t want to be overbearing, but we’re waiting to be told when we should be doing something.”
“My advice is to get as many different people to those different strategic planning meetings as possible for this or any other initiative that you want to see happen in this town,” Williams said. “That’s what we’re looking for – input and advice.”
Sixteen-year-old Berlin resident Chad Joines appealed to the council to include biking options in a skate park.
“Our main concern is the bikes,” he said. “There are plenty of skate parks around here that we can travel to, but we are not allowed to set foot in [them] with a bike.”
Joines said Ocean Pines and Ocean City do not allow bikes inside their skate parks.
“I have nowhere to go,” he said. “A bunch of my friends have nowhere to go at all.”
“We’re trying to be our own unique community and do it our own unique way,” Williams said. “Quite frankly, what I want people to do is let Ocean City be Ocean City, let Ocean Pines be Ocean Pines and I want people to let Berlin be Berlin. And we will probably be different in what we decide and what we create.”
Williams said the town was looking into projects they could complete by spring or summer 2015.
Hall said supporters could help the project become a reality by sharing their ideas and doing a little research.
“You can help us,” she said. “We’d like to give you something out here as soon as possible. You guys need to get together (and) point us in the right direction.
“You all can help us get this done by just giving us the information,” Hall continued. “That’s what you can do to help us. Give us the information.”
Outcry began during a Mayor and Council meeting on Oct. 27, continued during a Parks Commission meeting on Nov. 4, and lasted for more than 40 minutes during the most recent Mayor and Council meeting on Nov. 10.
This time Patrick Truitt, Tres Denk and Beth Gourley approached the council, asking for updates on a possible skate park.
Mayor Gee Williams said the takeaway from the parks meeting was that a temporary location might be more realistic than larger proposals, like the massive Tyson’s Park suggested as a possibility for the former Tyson’s poultry plant property.
“It might take some time and money whereas at least a good, decent but temporary skateboard park would be something that would be feasible and would be able to happen on a much faster track,” he said. “A temporary facility logically would happen a lot faster, and while that is being enjoyed then work towards something that’s permanent and state-of-the-art and adds to making Berlin a destination community. That is always an underlying thought in much of what we do.”
Truitt asked about the often-mentioned strategic planning meetings. The council approved a request for qualifications earlier in the meeting to hire a facilitator for the meetings, and tentative set a start date for January or February.
Williams said the town would send out announcements and press releases, and Town Administrator Laura Allen said the public should have at least two weeks’ notice before the beginning of the meetings.
“Once we get the input then we have to come up with the priorities and the plans,” Williams said.
Williams said the skate park “sounds like a natural” fit for the town.
“I haven’t heard anybody that’s against this idea,” he said. “I think what we want to do is find out how much interest there is, and that helps us figure out where it falls in the wish list.”
Councilmember Lisa Hall encouraged supporters of the skate park to “be creative.”
“Maybe you find someone to let you use some land for a while,” she said. “Maybe we could do a temporary place sooner than later. We’ve just got to get through the holidays right now, choose this facilitator, get these meetings going in January and February. Frankly we’re going to have to be creative like we’ve done with everything else. It’s going to be partnerships and people working together and volunteering.”
Williams agreed.
“Almost everything this town is doing it’s not just the town government,” he said. “We’re here to provide the foundations and the support, but the citizens are the co-creators of everything that I think is making this town cool.”
“In Berlin, the most important people in our town are volunteers,” Williams continued. “We need to keep that in mind as we develop a plan.”
Denk, who said he helped build skate parks in Los Angeles and has volunteered with several area nonprofits, asked for specific guidance.
“Sometimes I think people worry that they’re going unnoticed,” he said. “We want to make sure that you understand [we’re willing] to work with the parks and recs department. We don’t want to be overbearing, but we’re waiting to be told when we should be doing something.”
“My advice is to get as many different people to those different strategic planning meetings as possible for this or any other initiative that you want to see happen in this town,” Williams said. “That’s what we’re looking for – input and advice.”
Sixteen-year-old Berlin resident Chad Joines appealed to the council to include biking options in a skate park.
“Our main concern is the bikes,” he said. “There are plenty of skate parks around here that we can travel to, but we are not allowed to set foot in [them] with a bike.”
Joines said Ocean Pines and Ocean City do not allow bikes inside their skate parks.
“I have nowhere to go,” he said. “A bunch of my friends have nowhere to go at all.”
“We’re trying to be our own unique community and do it our own unique way,” Williams said. “Quite frankly, what I want people to do is let Ocean City be Ocean City, let Ocean Pines be Ocean Pines and I want people to let Berlin be Berlin. And we will probably be different in what we decide and what we create.”
Williams said the town was looking into projects they could complete by spring or summer 2015.
Hall said supporters could help the project become a reality by sharing their ideas and doing a little research.
“You can help us,” she said. “We’d like to give you something out here as soon as possible. You guys need to get together (and) point us in the right direction.
“You all can help us get this done by just giving us the information,” Hall continued. “That’s what you can do to help us. Give us the information.”