By Patty Roy

If residents of the town where you grew up decide to dedicate a park in your honor, you can guess that you mean a lot to the local citizens. And if they call it by your long-standing nickname, the deep affection of the hometown crowd cannot be in doubt.

That’s what happened on November 20, when the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce (BVCC) dedicated and cut the ribbon to “Berky Park” in honor of Harry Berkowitz, life-long resident, 30 year Planning Board member and host of several television and radio shows dedicated to Northbridge.

Berky Park is what’s known as a “pocket park” meaning that it was tucked into a vacant house lot at 2219 Providence Road, right across the street from the big gray three-decker where Harry grew up with his four brothers and parents, Frank and Aldea. 

Harry Berkowitz is informally known as “the honorary mayor of Rockdale.” Besides his planning board duties and membership on the Historic District Commission, he is active on  Northbridge Community TV (NCTV) with two  television shows: “3 on 11” and “About the Valley” which is also the name of his radio show with BVCC President and CEO Jeannie Herbert on WCRN-AM 830 Friday mornings. Besides being on NCTV, the television shows can also be found on Youtube that lets former residents keep in touch, no matter where they are.

“I have cousins in Poland and friends in Florida that watch it,” he said, smiling at the wide outreach.

Sometimes in the early 1900s, Harry’s great-grandfather built the big gray house that initially housed a pool room and bowling alley on the first floor.

When Harry’s grandfather got married and needed a place to live, his great-grandfather decided to expand the building with two more floors. Not surprisingly, the second floor tenants complained about the noise from the bowling alley, so the building was converted into six apartments rather than four. Could the noise level of a family with five boys be any quieter than living over a bowling alley, you have to wonder.

The name of the new green pocket park with its curving paths and fresh grass really relates to the whole family, Harry said, because “we’re all called Berky.”

A dry goods store once stood in what is now Berky Park; Harry’s mother worked on Saturday nights and got paid in store credit. 

“So we got all our clothes there,” he said. As a kid, he used to sit on a step on the store front, drinking a soda and eating a candy bar. He can now do so on a bench while contemplating the dedication plaque.

At 76 years of age, Harry has lots of good memories of growing up in Rockdale, attending the local elementary and graduating from Northbridge High School.

He recalls the Flood of 1955 when water from the Blackstone River rose higher than newly placed park fence.

After high school graduation, he completed a stint in the military with the 4th Armored Division in Nuremberg. It was an assignment that suited him, he said. 

“I got to learn a lot of history and I got to see it, too,” Harry said.

Next, there was a 30 year career with the major tobacco company, Brown & Williamson, that is no longer in business.

Most recently, the Rockdale Youth Center occupied the lot at 2219 Providence Road. With the help of American Rescue Plan Act funds, the topsy-turvey building was demolished, and the youth center relocated out of the flood plain to its new home up the hill on Church Avenue. Other funds came via the developer of Stone Hill Senior Living.

With flood threats making the lot unfit for a new building, the Planning Board identified it as an open green space.

At the ribbon cutting and dedication, Town Planner R. Gary Bechtoldt II offered that “our goal was to create a safe and inviting public outdoor space that is accessible, visually attractive to the community and is a positive amenity to the neighborhood.” 

It was also special that “we can recognize an individual who has done and continues to do so much for Northbridge. So I just want to thank you Harry for all that you do,” he said.

BVCC head Hebert said the Chamber has a wonderful relationship with Harry as host of their radio station, his support of the BVCC Expo and other charities in town. 

Communications director Kylie Gibbons from State Sen. Ryan Fattman’s office presented a citation on behalf of the Senate. (Sen. Fattman had a commitment in Washington D.C.) The citation acknowledged the dedication of Berky Park  in Harry’s honor and praised his hard work and dedication to the Rockdale community. 

Harry thanked everyone who came to the park opening.

“I always wondered if I’d have a legacy. I really do now and I appreciate it.” He said and thanked his wife Linda and two sons.

He also praised the success of the Rockdale Youth Center because it wasn’t anything that was available while he was growing up. Harry was there when the first Center opened in 2005.

“It’s helped a lot within this community because like most small places, they’ll tell you it really made those kids do better,” he said.

The Youth Center has gone from serving about 25 kids a year to 52 this year in its new location