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Berkley Cancels 2020 Summer Programs & Events
(City of Berkley, May 7, 2020)
Berkley, MI – After much deliberation and consideration, the City of Berkley has decided to suspend all activities, programs, and city-run events through Labor Day. This includes summer camp, SummerFest, summer concert series, the Summer Reading Ice Cream Social, and all in-person library and recreation programs.
This was a painful decision to make, especially considering the high level of participation our programming services receive within the City of Berkley. We know residents will be saddened by the decision, but, we came to this conclusion because we want to give residents as much lead time as possible to make alternative plans for the summer months. If you’ve already paid for recreational programs, your account will be refunded as soon as possible.
While we know this is disappointing news, we believe this was a necessary step to protect our collective community from further harm. We, as many of our residents and other community partners, hope to see an end to the required social distancing and prolonged shutdown. However, the safety and health of the community is our first priority, and what drives these tough decisions. Putting a halt to our programming right now will aid in putting our city in better standing for opening activities and events later on in the year.
We have truly appreciated the way our community has come together to support one another through these hard times. Whether it was neighbor, friend, or even stranger conducting an act of kindness, it has shown what it truly means when we say “We are Berkley strong.”
Parks and Recreation will continue with online engagement through their Facebook page (facebook.com/BerkleyParksandRec) and are exploring new ways to offer virtual programming to stay connected during this time. Updates on the future of our recreational programs will also be shared on their social media page and the City website. For any additional questions, residents can email the director at tmcarleton@berkleymich.net. The community can also reach Parks and Recreation at 248-658-3472. If you do not get anyone on the line, leave a message and we will return your call.
Berkley Public Library is retooling its Summer Reading program to offer virtual programming this year! We’ll provide high-quality programming from a variety of presenters throughout the summer. Physical checkout of materials will be possible in some capacity. Please visit www.berkleymich.org/elibrary to learn about our digital content offerings. Stay tuned to the library’s Facebook page (facebook.com/BerkleyPublicLibrary) and Instagram page (instagram.com/berkleylibrary) to stay current on library updates and events. Residents can also get in touch with the library director at mchurch@berkleymich.net or 248-658-3440 for any additional information or assistance.
The City of Berkley will be making an official announcement to the residents and community of its COVID-19 Recovery and Reopening Plan in the coming weeks.
To learn more and stay up-to-date with Berkley during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit www.berkleymich.org/coronavirus.