BERLIN — Berlin took a big step Monday toward achieving the town’s long-held vision for a new public park, as the Berlin town council agreed on which park amenities will be the first to greet guests at the town’s municipal complex.
At its regular monthly meeting, the council unanimously approved a proposal from mayor Patrick Bates to begin the bidding process for the construction of a new pavilion for the Berlin Farmers Market, a new playground area, and a new parking area to accommodate guests, with all three projects set to occupy the town-owned property lying just south of County Road 1615 and north of U.S. Highway 278.
The property already serves as the site of the current farmers market, though the new market pavilion, when finished, will lie farther to the east. The proposed playground area will lie just north of the new market pavilion, while the parking lot will abut both amenities immediately to their west. Citing costs, the council also agreed to pause until a later date its plans to construct a restroom building that would serve the entire park.
The town has tapped Cullman’s St. John & Associates to create the complex’s overall plan and has budgeted $500,000 toward the current phase of the project. Future spending — including the delayed restroom building as well as longer-range plans that make use of public property on the north side of County Road 1615 (where Berlin’s storm shelter and town hall currently lie) — will be undertaken once the current phase is completed.
With the council’s approval in hand, Bates said the town will soon begin soliciting construction bids for the approved park elements and that work at the site could begin as soon as November. The goal, he added, is to have the market pavilion, parking lot and playground ready for use by the time the farmer’s market opens for its 2025 season.