by Trish Rudder
Through donations to the Berkeley Springs Park Foundation, additional upgrades in the historic Town of Bath’s Berkeley Springs State Park are beginning to take shape.
At the March 5 Town Council meeting, Foundation president Pete Gordon said the Foundation was appreciative of the Town of Bath’s sponsorship for past projects, but donations from businesses, banks and citizens will help pay for these upgrades instead of applying for grant funding, Gordon said.
“Private funds move projects faster,” said Susan Webster, Town Recorder.
Gordon said he needed permission from the Council to use some of the 100-year-old brick pavers that was once the Fairfax Street roadway. The council approved the use of the pavers for this project.
One of the upgrades is to restore the George Washington’s Bathtub walls and brick border, Gordon said.
photo by Trish Rudder
It is located close to the Warm Springs Run wading pool and visitors in the park were wading in the pool on Sunday.
The other project is to build a 10 ft. by 20 ft. musicians’ pad out of the historic brick pavers and is to be ready for the Morgan Arts Council “Concerts in the Park” series beginning mid-summer, Gordon said.
David Stohl of Third Pig Masonry in Berkeley Springs will do the work and Stohl is cleaning up some of the pavers for the project’s use, Gordon said.
Councilwoman Rebecca MacLeod said it sounds like a great idea to use more of the 100-year-old brick pavers for these park upgrades.
Gordon said on Friday that it is exciting to have this project move forward so quickly and that it is funded primarily by private donations.
