By Greg Ellison

(Sept. 16, 2021) Berlin’s Parks Commission gathered at Stephen Decatur Park last Tuesday to review a site inspection report and update proposed projects and events.

Berlin Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen reported on the status of an application for a grant from the Maryland Natural Resources Program Open Space to cover of the installation cost of permanent bathrooms at Stephen Decatur Park on Tripoli Street.

In August 2020, the mayor and council applied for Program Open Space funds under the Community Parks and Playgrounds program for an estimated price tag of $110,000.

At this point, the town continues to await award notification.

“The evidence points to us being approved,” she said.

The town has requested grant funds for $99,000 with a 10 percent local match of $11,000.

Also discussed were two events proposed by the Worcester County Health Department. Bohlen said the first is for an outdoor, self-guided “scavenger hunt” on Oct. 6.

“People take pics and send them in,” she said.

The Health Department has also asked the mayor and Town Council about holding a “glow walk,” on Nov. 5.

Bohlen said questions remain regarding an ideal site to stage the autumn walk.

“I’m sure it can be done but I’m not sure how,” she said.

Bohlen said using Stephen Decatur Park could prove challenging because it’s lack of lighting.

“We would need to inspect the park at night to see if it’s feasible,” she said.

Bohlen said the town would ask health department officials for more information and would also consider whether the town could employ past pathways used for communitywide fall walks in Berlin.

“Our walks do go down into town so we might just push it that way,” she said.

The commission also weighed several concerns about the disc golf course proposed at Stephen Decatur Park.

In May, the parks commission heard a request from local disc golf pros Austin Widdowson and Shawn Johnson to install an 18-hole course at Stephen Decatur Park.

Widdowson and Johnson, both members of Eastbound Disc Golf, later presented preliminary plans to the mayor and council.

Bohlen said the mayor and council are slated to consider accepting equipment donations from course organizers during its meeting the following week.

Commission Chairman Mike Wiley has toured the proposed course layout with Council member Jack Orris.

In July, the council agreed to allow Eastbound Disc Golf to hold trial run events at Stephen Decatur Park on Aug. 1, 10 and 22.

Wiley said a principal concern fielded from residents was a disc golf hole located adjacent to Route 113.

Bohlen said the town received several emails about the layout of the course after it was proposed, with most of them objecting to the holes being located around the pond.

Bohlen agreed that the hole near Route 113 needs adjusting.

“The one near the highway should maybe be angled in a way so the discs are never being thrown towards the highway,” she said.

Commission members also toured the park site with Public Works Superintendent Jimmy Charles, who reviewed the most recent facility inspection report.

Also attending the meeting was Berlin resident Donna Pellinger who spoke in favor of installing equipment to increase accessibility for a larger swath of children.

Earlier this summer, Mayor Zach Tyndall suggested installing “inclusive playground,” elements with rough initial estimates topping $800,000.

Inclusive play areas are intended to extend physical activities and social interactions for individuals of all abilities.

Pellinger noted Wicomico County recently completed comparable upgrades at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury.

In May, the Donnie Williams Inclusive Playground was opened at the athletic complex to accommodate children with disabilities.

Salisbury’s park project cost roughly $750,000 and includes special offerings such as a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round.

Pellinger noted the revamped site was designed to provide wheelchair access throughout the play areas.

“You can go from the parking lot to the sidewalk and into the playground,” she said.

Pellinger also brought up what she believed were the potential safety hazards of outdated park equipment.

“That caterpillar is a little sketchy,” she said. “I don’t see lot of kids playing on it.”

Bohlen said reproducing something on the scale of what Salisbury did could be too expensive for Berlin, while noting that the principal source of funding has traditionally been through Program Open Space.

Worcester County receives Program Open Space funding from the state and oversees distribution to municipalities.

“In the past, Worcester County gave money to the town [but], we haven’t seen any in several years,” she said.

Berlin has usually had park improvements funded through the Community Parks and Playgrounds program.

Bohlen said the price associated with Tyndall’s initial pitch would probably exceed state grant funding limits.

Converting Stephen Decatur Park playground areas to feature “inclusive,” elements would involve extensive site work beyond equipment costs.

“In order to do the vision, a lot would have to be pulled out, including trees,” she said.

Bohlen said details about potential grant sums available through Program Open Space would need to be clarified.

“That isn’t something I see happening soon because the mayor and council would have to contribute a significant amount,” she said.

Bohlen estimated repairing the walking path through the park could run as much as $500,000.

“It’s not impossible but there’s a lot more to it than applying for the funding,” she said.

The next parks commission meeting is scheduled on Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m.