BOYERTOWN >> The borough council is considering the best location for new Bear Fever ceramic bear.
Organized by the Park and Recreation Board, the bear will be placed at the Boyertown Community Park on Madison Street as a standing bear.
“We’re discussing places to put it,” said Council President Frank Deery to kick off the conversation at the Aug. 1 council meeting.
Discussions surrounding the bear have previously taken place at committee meetings and two locations at the park were narrowed down – in the center near the flagpole or to the left of the entrance gate by the walking trail.
An exact location needs to be decided in order to lay the base down for the installation. The bear is expected to be completed in one month, with an unveiling aimed for mid-September.
Deery said he took a ride into the park that afternoon and liked the idea of the bear being in the center.
The first key element is discouraging children from climbing or playing on the bear. For that reason, it will not be placed near the playground. The second element is to avoid to buildup of dirt and mold by choosing a non-shaded location.
“This is going to be a park bear,” said Lori Carnes of the Parks and Rec. Board. She also emphasized how the bear needs to be near the entrance to welcome visitors to the park and to its picnic areas.
Council member Chuck Heller expressed concerns about mold if in a shaded area such as the flagpole area, and also about kids getting on the bear if it’s placed by the trail.
Mayor Marianne Deery expressed that the flagpole area may get too congested and suggested placing the bear by the entrance on Madison Street.
“We were considering that, but think it’s a high risk for vandalism,” said Carnes. “There are benefits to having it out front. It’s a ‘welcome to the park’ thing.”
The council unanimously voted for the bear’s location to the alongside the gate by the walking trail. There was an unhealthy tree near that area which has since been taken down.
“It will be awesome, we promise,” said Carnes.
The Parks and Rec. Board is keeping the name and aesthetic details of bear under wraps until the unveiling.
The Bear Fever project is a public art project which began in 2003. Find out more at <www.bearfever.org>.
