BERLIN – Dozens of volunteers descended on the town’s parks last weekend to kick off spring with Berlin Clean-Up Day.
More than 70 volunteers participated last Saturday in Berlin’s annual clean-up. They weeded, mulched and planted flowers in Berlin Falls Park, Stephen Decatur Park and Henry Park.
“It’s just generally sprucing the parks up,” said Mike Wiley, chairman of the town’s parks commission. “It’s in conjunction with Earth Day. It’s just something we try to do to raise awareness and get people to take pride in the parks.”
Wiley said that though event participation had dwindled in recent years—likely due to the array of events scheduled for the Saturday after Earth Day—turnout had increased this year. He attributes that to the fact that for the first time the town partnered with Comcast for the clean-up. Savannah Isner, senior public relations specialist with Comcast, said employees joined town officials and residents in cleaning, weeding, mulching, trimming and planting throughout Berlin.
Volunteers constructed pollinator gardens on the grounds of Berlin Falls Park last Saturday.
“Comcast Cares Day is our longstanding company tradition that embodies our culture of giving back,” she said. “Each year, we work with our local employees, as well as community partners, who live and work in the communities we serve to identify volunteer opportunities that are most appropriate based on their community’s needs.”
Mary Bohlen, the town’s administrative services director, said the town was grateful to Comcast for its help as well as to the Kiwanis Club, which provided lunch for participants.
She credited volunteers for their efforts to spruce up the town’s green spaces.
“Volunteers weeded and mulched flower beds at the three parks, planted flowers and did general clean-up of litter,” she said. “In addition, this year the Berlin Falls Park Advisory Committee planted pollinator gardens, installed bee boxes and had a free pollinator craft as well as information on potential amphitheater designs and other amenities.”
Wiley said the trees and shrubs provided to residents through the Maryland Forest Service Backyard Buffer program were also a popular part of this year’s event. The few trees not reserved in advance were distributed to those on a waiting list.
