By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

ALLY LANASA/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Berlin Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen said the Public Works Department is fixing maintenance issues on equipment at Stephen Decatur Park that were found during the annual playground inspection of this and the two other town parks.

(July 16, 2020) The following took place on Tuesday, July 7, during the Berlin Parks Commission meeting:

Rain garden

The commission reviewed a rain garden at Dr. William Henry Park on Flower Street planted by the Assateague Coastal Trust in early June.

Verena Chase, the Coast Kids program director at Assateague Coastal Trust, said the rain garden was aided by a grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.

The rain garden features the following native plants: butterfly milkweed, cardinal flower, spotted beebalm, swamp milkweed, wrinkleleaf goldenrod, common boneset, swamp rose, wild blue phlox and iris versicolor.

Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen said it is in the right location — past the basketball courts next to the pollinator garden that was planted last year — to catch a lot of water.

Grants

Bohlen said she received notification in late May that the proposed lighting of the basketball courts at Dr. William Henry Park was not funded by a grant through the Department of Natural Resources. The project qualified, but the the Community Parks and Playgrounds program under the Department of Natural Resources is focused on new projects.

The mayor and council want to put permanent restrooms at Stephen Decatur Park on Tripoli Street for about $100,000 as well as install lighting for the basketball courts at Henry Park on Flower Street, which would cost about $101, 000.

The Parks Commission agreed to allow the mayor and council to decide which project Bohlen should pursue, and Bohlen will ask the mayor and council to discuss this matter at their July 27 meeting.

The town does not have a new project prepared for a grant application at this time.

Event dates

National Night Out was canceled for Aug. 4. The proposed new date is Oct. 6, but that is the Berlin municipal election day. The Berlin Police Department announced the decision to cancel the National Night Out on Tuesday, July 14. Instead, the police department will focus on three smaller community outreach projects, according to a Facebook post.

In addition, the Fall Just Walk has been rescheduled for Nov. 7.

Heron Park

An update from Jack Orris of the Heron Park Advisory Committee said the pollinator gardens received new mulch and native flowers were planted in the raising beds. There are currently no active projects at the park on Old Ocean City Boulevard due to covid-19 aside from maintaining the pollinator gardens and cutting the grass.

Future long-term goals for the park include adding a skate park and an amphitheater.

Playground inspection

The annual playground inspection found no serious concerns. Bohlen said the Public Works Department is fixing the maintenance issues on equipment such as loose bolts. Public Works is also eliminating low tree branches.

Peach Day

Due to covid-19, the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum is hosting a Peach Day on Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. instead of a Peach Festival this year. Peaches are available for pre-order in half bushels or bags. Call 410-641-1019 to order.