Borough of East Berlin

Parks & Recreation

“The purpose of conservation: The greatest good to the greatest number of people for the longest time.”

 ~ Gifford Pinchot  

Governor of Pennsylvania, Father of American forestry

EAST BERLIN COMMUNITY PARK

Google© Map location

Located on the north side of town along Conewago Creek, this 17-acre recreational park was opened in 2009. It gains in popularity and use every year!

What recreational options are at the park?

  • 1,250 square foot Picnic Pavilion
  • Skatepark (with obstacles)
  • Basketball Court
  • Paved 0.4-mile Walking Path
  • Children’s Playground
  • Soccer Field
  • Horseshoe Pit
  • Trail along Conewago Creek
  • Maze/Labyrinth

Who maintains the park?

The Parks and Recreation Commission is responsible for our Community Park. The Borough’s maintenance staff works hard to keep it safe, clean and accessible. Commission members and community volunteers also pitch in to keep it in good shape.

Our Mission Statement: “Develop a park and recreation facility that offers physical and recreational activities, social settings, passive areas, and open spaces to be enjoyed by all, young and old.”

We welcome donations from individuals, organizations, and businesses!

Donations help us maintain our parkland and help us plan for the future. They also serve as matching funds when we seek grants, like the ones we were awarded to build our basketball court, pave the walking path, and build a restroom facility.

A fundraising effort is now underway to build a fenced dog park!

To complete our Community Park Master Plan, we will also need a boardwalk across the narrow wetland that divides the east and west sides of the park!  

How can I donate and volunteer?

There are many options, including commemorative donation programs, or contributing to funds that will improve the playground, build the dog park or wetland boardwalk, plant a pollinator garden or rain garden, restore Kuhn’s Woods or complete other special projects:

  • Click here for the Parks Donation Form. Mail or deliver completed form to East Berlin Borough at 128 Water St, East Berlin, with a check made payable to East Berlin Borough Parks & Recreation. Cash donations are not accepted at this time.
  • Click here for the Engrave-a-Brick Form.
  • In-kind donations (materials and labor for specific park projects).
  • Community service projects through the Boy ScoutsGirl Scouts and other groups!
  • Volunteer work teams! We welcome one and all!
  • Click here for the Volunteer Liability Release Form.
  • Join Friends of East Berlin Parks. Their mission is to help take care of park gardens, trails, and facilities, assist with fundraisers, and be a source for new ideas and partnerships. Contact the Borough office for more information.

Do you hold fundraisers?

  • Yes! Attend our Annual Golf Outing fundraiser at Briarwood Golf Course on the third Friday in September and Feast Berlin events during the summer at the Community Park with food trucks, games and music!
  • We are always brainstorming new ideas for family-friendly events to raise funds and build community. We welcome ideas and volunteers!
  • Keep an eye on our Community Calendar and plan to join us in support of East Berlin parks!

What are the park hours and rules?

  • The park is open dawn to dusk.
  • Leashed dogs are welcome but remember to remove and dispose of waste in the pet waste station.
  • NO alcohol allowed.
  • Please carry away all trash and restrict vehicles to paved parking areas.
  • Help us maintain the cleanliness of our new restroom facility.
  • Motorized vehicles, including ATV’s, are NOT allowed on non-paved areas, including along Conewago Creek.

How can I rent the picnic pavilion?

The picnic pavilion, with electrical service and 80-person capacity, can be reserved for exclusive use at a daily event fee of $85. See the calendar below for availability. Click here for the Pavilion Rental Form. Mail or deliver completed form to East Berlin Borough at 128 Water St, East Berlin, 17316, with a check made payable to East Berlin Borough Parks & Recreation. Cash payments are not accepted. Questions, contact Borough Hall office at (717) 259-9224 or ebsectreas@comcast.net

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The Pavilion has been booked today. Information to book the pavilion for a different date is found below: The picnic pavilion, with electrical service and 80-person capacity, can be reserved for exclusive use for a nominal daily use fee. Check our Community Calendar for availability. Visit the Parks and Rec page for th , ...
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KUHN’S WOODS

What’s the story behind Kuhn’s Woods?

In 1969, East Berlin acquired a 30-acre forested tract along Conewago Creek on the south side of town through Pennsylvania’s “Project 70 Land Acquisition and Borrowing Act.” It was to “provide land for recreation, conservation, and historical purposes.” Though used casually by residents over the years, it was not developed as a community park. Select trees were harvested in 1990 as good conservation practice.

In 2010, a certified forester surveyed Kuhn’s Woods and made recommendations for a forest management plan. Around the same time, the Parks and Recreation Commission needed to prioritize time and resources on our Community Park to make sure it would become the success it is today. We are now expanding our focus to include Kuhn’s Woods.

What are your plans?

We are working with the Adams County forester to develop a forest management plan. Initial tasks will include removal of invasive species. The next step will be a plan for long-term maintenance, a new trail layout, better access, signage, and parking. Our goal is to return it to full public use for passive activities like nature hikes, fishing and birdwatching. It can also play a role in our storm management efforts.

We invite volunteers and donations to support this new initiative!

Are there other public open spaces in East Berlin?

To the north and east of the East Berlin Area Community Center are a playground, picnic pavilion, ballfield, and sand volleyball court. Behind is the EBACC Nature Trail, built in 1992 by the Franklin-Adams Youth Service Corps as a federal Job Training Partnership Act project. Volunteers and donations are needed to restore this lovely wooded trail. Contact EBACC or the Parks and Recreation Commission through the Borough Hall office if you are interested!

Adjacent to Kuhn’s Woods is the abandoned right-of-way for the old East Berlin Railroad. H.E.A.R.T. Healthy Eastern Adams Rails & Trails, a new non-profit, is studying the possibility of building a Rail-Trail along this route, starting at East Berlin. Contact them for more information.

How can I help take care of our natural surroundings in East Berlin?

We have over 3.5 miles of creek front surrounding East Berlin! Nearly one mile is publicly owned, while the remaining creek front is privately owned, either by local industries or homeowners. We have an opportunity to build a public-private partnership to protect this vital ecosystem. Working together, we can remove invasive species, discourage activities that compact the soil, and plant native species that slow runoff, stabilize creek banks and create wildlife habitat. We can limit our use of pesticides and herbicides that can find their way into our groundwater and creeks. These efforts would help us reach our storm management goals, too, and leave a legacy of stewardship for the next generation. Contact the Parks & Recreation Commission if you have ideas or want to volunteer in these efforts.

The Parks & Recreation Commission meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7:00pm at Borough Hall. The public is always welcome! We invite your thoughts and ideas!

How can I contact you?

For maintenance issues, contact boromaintenance@comcast.net or call (717) 577-4846.

To get in touch with the Parks & Recreation Commission, rent the pavilion or make a donation, email Cindy Smith, Borough Secretary/Treasurer at ebsectreas@comcast.net, or call (717) 259-9224.

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