By Greg Ellison

(March 10, 2022) The nonprofit We Heart Berlin is gaining ground on installing table tennis facilities at Burbage Park and is continuing to compile funding for a proposed skate park at a yet-to-be-determined location.

We Heart Berlin President and CEO Tony Weeg said a fundraising campaign is underway to install ping pong tables at Burbage Park.

“I submitted the plans to the town for the table tennis park today,” he said.

To help finance the pocket park pitch, We Heart Berlin members are selling commemorative bricks that can be personalized for $100.

“There’s going to be an abundance of bricks,” he said.

Project renderings include a 25-foot brick wall measuring two-feet high and two-feet wide.

Photo by Greg Ellison
We Heart Berlin President and CEO Tony Weeg is promoting a fundraising venture selling commemorative bricks for planned ping pong tables at Burbage Park.

Ping Pong park bricks can include up to three lines with 14 characters on each.

“People can buy after the fact,” he said. “They’ll be done in groups of 25.”

Weeg said with a memo of understanding now signed by Berlin officials, the table tennis project is ready to get underway.

“I’ve got the infrastructure in storage and the park creation paid for,” he said. “We’re literally just waiting on the town.”

In November, the Town Council authorized Weeg to purchase ping pong tables and equipment ahead of pending approvals.

Weeg said to this point about 20 commemorative bricks have been purchased.

Weeg said Brian Zollinger with Vista Design completed project renderings, which are on the agenda for the Town Council meeting on March 14.

Although a bit farther from focus, soliciting funding to build a skate park in Berlin is also gaining traction.

“Over the last four months we have received $25,000 in three checks,” he said.

Weeg said $10,000 was provided through the Baker Dickerson Family Foundation.

“Their daughter, Peyton, works at Casual Design and lives on Main Street,” he said. “They were very happy to donate this year.”

Also, Verizon employee Jerron Whaley was able to solicit corporate backing.

“He submitted our names in a hat for a $10,000 donation and we got it,” he said.

On Monday, another $5,000 check was delivered from a Main Street business.

Weeg said the proprietors wish to remain anonymous but hope the generosity is echoed by others.

Looking ahead, Weeg said the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is applying for a FY22 Maryland Community Initiative grant to help finance the skate park project.

“We’re in the running to get a portion of a $100,000 pool,” he said. “It’s going to be a sizable chunk, maybe the most sizeable we’ve gotten yet.”

Despite already garnering relatively hefty sums, Weeg said total project costs are estimated at over a million dollars.

“My goal is $1.5 million,” he said.

Although an eventual location has yet to be determined, Weeg said the Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network from Salisbury University has been retained to complete a feasibility study.

“The step we’re on right now is community fundraising and getting the town to give us a space,” he said. “On that day when we know we’ve got a space we can really start drawing pictures and looking at topography.”