Announcements

Announcements & News

WELCOME TO THE COUNTY OF BERKS PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS AND RESERVATION SITE:

Follow these easy steps:

1. Create an account: From the Homepage select the "Create Account" button.

2. Complete your profile information. You may also add your family to your
account.

3. Follow the steps and complete the required fields.

4. Your account is created! You are now a member and may register for a program
or reserve one of our facilities for your event (ei: birthday party, family reunion,
graduation party, baby shower, etc.)

5. The Parks that have Pavilions are Berks Leisure Area, Red Bridge, Gring's Mill and
Stonecliffe. Gring's Mill has a Barn as well.

6. Once you reserve through RecDesk, it will be submitted to the office for approval
process during normal business hours of Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4pm.

7. Once approved, watch your email for the invoice. Payment is due by the date on the invoice. If payment is not received by due date, your event will be cancelled. Once invoice is paid you will receive the Special Use Permit needed to have your reservation.

Berks County Park Regulations & Conditions for Pavilion Reservations

• Parks are available for rental from April 15th through the last weekend of October.

• Alcohol is not permitted. No exceptions.

• All pets, with the exception of service animals, are prohibited.

• Any group event or gathering of twenty-five (25) or more people must make application and payment for a Reservation Permit. Gatherings of fewer than twenty-five people are not required to make a reservation; however, park areas are only available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Groups of fewer than twenty-five who wish to guarantee a particular park area for use must make application and payment for a Reservation Permit.

• Successful Reservation applicants will be issued a permit. You must have the permit with you to present to the Park Ranger or Attendant on the day of your event.

• The Berks County Parks Department has a no-refund policy. Refunds are not given for inclement weather (except if cancelled by the Department—see below). If you cancel your reservation for any reason, you will forfeit all fees already paid.

• The Department reserves the right to cancel reservations due to extreme weather conditions or other emergencies. If this occurs, Park staff will assist you with finding an alternate date. If an alternate date cannot be arranged, the Department will refund the fee paid less a $25 administrative fee.

• Permits will not be issued if they conflict with Park activities or events.

• There will be a $30 fee for all checks returned for insufficient funds.

• The use of confetti and devices that dispense such materials or paints (i.e., gender reveals) – is strongly discouraged. If you utilize such materials – you must come prepared to clean up the area or be invoiced for additional clean up.

• Picnic tables, regardless of location, may not be moved or rearranged.

• Moon bounces, large inflatable devices, animals/petting zoos, rides, mechanical equipment, DJs, DJ equipment and/or other “entertainment” are not permitted.

• Please schedule a sufficient amount of time to conduct your event, including set-up and clean-up. No set-up time will be allowed prior to the start time on your Reservation Permit.

• The person named on the Indemnification Reservation Application is responsible for all clean-up of the area(s) both during and after the event. The area(s) used must be left in the same condition as it was found prior to the event. Failure to report damage or failure to restore the area(s) to its pre-event condition may result in additional fees or loss of future permit privileges. The most common types of billable damage costs are: excess litter and debris; damage to pavilions, restrooms, buildings, trails, trees and shrubs; and turf damage from vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

• The Permittee is responsible for the removal of all garbage, trash and litter created by the event.

• The Parks Department strongly encourages the carry-in/carry-out approach. Small items of trash can be placed in park dumpsters and garbage cans. Please make certain that someone from your group is assigned to remove trash and decorations after your event.

• Driving across the grass to pavilions or picnic areas to drop off items/supplies, or for any other reason, is not permitted. It is recommended that you bring a wagon/small cart/wheeled cooler etc. to transport picnic supplies from your vehicle to the rental site. Park Rangers are not able to assist in transporting supplies during reservations.

• Driving down the paved driveway to the Gring’s Mill or Stonecliffe Pavilion is not permitted.

• Parking at pavilions or parking in any assigned ranger/staff spaces is prohibited. Available parking is limited and cannot be held exclusively for your group. Parking on lawn areas is not permitted.

• For Gring’s Mill Barn reservations, one vehicle will be permitted to drive down to the Barn to drop off (and pick up) supplies at the beginning and end of a rental period, but the vehicle must then be parked in the upper lots. Parking at the Barn is prohibited. This applies to caterers as well.

• Access for other park visitors must not be restricted or impeded. A Standard Reservation Permit is authorization for your event to take place in a specific park location and does not grant exclusive use of the entire park.

• The Permittee is responsible for the behavior of all guests attending the event. Profanity, violence or any other inappropriate behavior towards Park Rangers, staff or park patrons will not be tolerated. Guests must comply with any request made by Park Rangers or staff.

• If Parks Department staff deems your gathering a Special Event rather than a Standard Reservation, additional charges may apply.

• The Parks Department does not offer “rain date” alternatives for your rental. If you wish to book a rain date, you must pay the full fee to reserve that date.

• Charcoal grills are available for use at outdoor rental areas. If desired, you may bring a small tabletop gas grill. Large and/or wheeled grills, pits and rotisseries are not permitted. On-site pig roasting is not permitted. You must provide your own charcoal.

• The following are prohibited: Generators, power strips, extension cords, microwaves, mini-fridges, toasters, hot dog rollers, snow cone makers, cotton candy machines, and similar devices. You may plug in only one crock pot or two small electric items (i.e., a small radio) per breaker.

• Barbeque trucks and/or any other type of food trucks are not permitted. Sternos (open-flame food warmers used under trays) are permitted ONLY if suspended within the chafe pan frame itself.

• The use of staples, nails, or tacks to hang decorations or signage is not permitted. The posting of directional signage is permitted but must be removed promptly after the event.

• Profit-making activities are strictly prohibited.

• Fires, fireworks/sparklers, candles, torches, and other sources of open flame are not permitted (except for grills and sternos as noted above). Smoking is not permitted in any indoor facilities.

• For the protection of guests and wildlife, swimming and wading are prohibited.

• Discharge of firearms, BB guns, pellet guns and bows (other than bowfishing) is prohibited.

• Vegetation, wildlife, rocks, and artifacts may not be disturbed or removed. Leave only footprints, take only photos.

Gring’s Mill Barn Rental Guidelines

-There is NO heat or air conditioning in the barn. You may open doors and windows, use the ceiling fans, or bring box fans.

-There are no kitchen facilities available. You may bring crock pots, cold food, coolers, etc. Sternos (open-flame food warmers used under trays) are permitted ONLY if they are suspended within the chafe pan frame itself.

-Ten 8-foot-long rectangular folding tables (29’’x96’’) and 70 chairs are provided with rentals. You must set up and tear these down yourself. If additional tables and/or chairs are needed, you must rent them from an outside rental company. The maximum capacity of the barn is 100 people.

-Approximately 30x42 square feet of usable space.

-Trash cans/bags are provided. Any trash in excess of provided containers should be taken to the dumpster in the main parking lot.

-Restrooms are located on the lower level of the barn and are the public restrooms for the park. You must go outside and down a ramp to access them from the rental area (2nd floor). They are wheelchair accessible.

-Parking at the barn is prohibited. You will be issued a temporary permit to drive one vehicle down to drop off and pick up supplies before and after your event, but the vehicle must be parked in the upper lots during the actual event.

-The cost to rent the barn is $250 for Berks County residents. This is for eight hours of time, including setup and cleanup.

-You MUST be cleaned up and leaving the barn at least ½ hour before the park closes (closing times vary seasonally). See page 2 of Standard Reservation Application for monthly park closing times.

The following are NOT allowed:

-Space heaters/portable air conditioners/fireplace use

-Power strips/extension cords

-Any source of open flame (besides sternos, as described above)

-Alcohol

-Helium filled latex or mylar balloons (Due to entanglement in ceiling fans)

-Pets, except for service animals

-DJs/DJ equipment (you may play music through small speakers, iPod, etc.)

-Food trucks/barbeque trucks

-Caterers ARE allowed, but cannot remain parked at the barn during the event

-Generators

-Staples/nails/tacks to hang decorations

-Microwaves, mini-fridges, toasters, hot dog rollers, snow cone makers, cotton candy machines, etc.

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