Photo by Rachel Ravina
A swing set at Dr. William Henry Park on Flower Street in Berlin needs to be replaced due to rust.

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(July 4, 2019) Dr. William Henry and Stephen Decatur parks are getting facelifts.

Jeff Fleetwood, managing director for the Town of Berlin, said playground facilities are required to have inspections and these were inspected about one month ago.

Safety concerns are the chief reason for the inspections, Fleetwood said, although other issues can be identified during the process. Fleetwood and Public Works Superintendent Dave Wheaton visited the properties on Tripoli and Flower streets to see what work needed to be done.

Fleetwood said he observed aesthetic issues such as the presence of mold and algae on structures and he found some playground attachments and support caps that needed to be repaired. Also, a swing set at Dr. William Henry Park on Flower Street “needs to be replaced”  because of  rust, according to Fleetwood.

“Everything that you deal with down there is safety and I respect that,” he said.

Fleetwood clarified the powerwashing was scheduled prior to last Monday’s Town Council meeting.

“We’re done with the cleaning. It looks very good I was down there [Thursday],” Fleetwood said.

He then contacted contractors who specialize in playground repairs. They walked the sites, and Fleetwood is awaiting quotes.

He estimated the repairs and replacements would cost roughly $8,000, which would be covered by the town.

As for the progress, he said “it’s always ongoing.”

Fleetwood also encouraged any parkgoers who notice any equipment of facility issues to contact him at 410-641-2770.

Additionally, Fleetwood told members of Berlin’s Town Council that repairs were completed to fill “holes big enough to park your truck in” at Stephen Decatur Park.

“I’m [going to] call June and July park month[s] from our perspective because there’s [going to] be a lot of attention down there,” Fleetwood said last Monday.