Heron Park may finally reopen next week

BERLIN, Md.–After having to close Heron Park for a few months last summer because of a chemical spill and safety issues, the Berlin Town Administrator, Jeff Fleetwood, said he has high hopes that the park will reopen early next week.

“Assuming that we finish up the things of that I want done between now and Monday, at our public evening meeting I will make a recommendation to the mayor and council that we open the park,” Jeff Fleetwood, Berlin Town Administrator, said.

This news is something that some Berlin residents said they are excited about.

“I think it’s amazing, it’s a good thing, I’m really excited about it,” Barbara Repsher, a Berlin resident said.

The park that used to be a poultry waste water facility first closed down during the summer after a chemical spill, but then reopened in September when the spill was cleaned.

“All chemicals have been removed there are no chemicals on this property,” Fleetwood said.

Shortly after reopening, the park shut down again due to the demolition of buildings and the residue that was left from it, which became a safety concern.

“So there was a lot of concrete, a lot of rebar, steel, steel material, holes,” Fleetwood said.

Fleetwood said there’s a few things that need to be done between Friday and Monday to reopen, but he has seen a great deal of improvement in how it has been cleaned up.

“That has all been buttoned up, it’s been taken care of, so overall this is a night and day difference from about a month ago,” Fleetwood said.

Some residents said that now that the park may be reopening soon, they have confidence that the town did a great job in fixing the issues.

“As long as you know everything is kept up to maintenance and everything like that, I think everything should be fine,” Michael Hoffman, antique shop owner in Berlin, said.

“I’m sure it’s very strictly monitored, like they don’t mess around with the environment around here like everybody is really in touch with the environment and an oil spill is no joke so I completely trust the county, Ella Smith, Berlin resident, said.

The Maryland Department of Environment asked the town to do shallow groundwater testing to be positive that there are no remains from the chemical spill.

That testing will happen on Feb. 19, but Fleetwood said the town still can open the park before that.