By Ashley M. Casey

Staff Writer

One of the Northeast’s first planned communities turns 60 this year. To celebrate Bayberry’s diamond anniversary, the Bayberry Community Association is holding its annual summer picnic Aug. 13.

The 60th anniversary celebration will feature live music, food and a display on the community’s history. Sen. John A. DeFrancisco and other local government officials are expected to attend, and there will be family-friendly games and activities, including water slides.

“As neighborhoods get older, there’s always a turnover of new residents. A lot of them that come into Bayberry have children. You keep the children busy, you keep everyone happy,” said BCA President Mike Banks.

While Liverpool is a much busier place since Bayberry’s 1956 inception, the sense of camaraderie among the neighbors who live in the community’s more than 1,500 homes is much the same, according to longtime resident and historian June Baycura.

“The people are still lovely. People help each other — they still do,” said Baycura, who settled in Bayberry in 1973. “Most everyone in the community is very aware of keeping their homes looking good. … I think people still take pride.”

Joan Doyle and her husband, Bob, moved to Bayberry circa 1966 with their five children. The late Bob Doyle was a real estate agent who knew about the perks of living in Bayberry: conveniently located shops and doctor’s offices, a nearby school, the famous Bayberry pool and, of course, the tight-knit community.

“There were wall-to-wall children,” Joan Doyle recalled. “Our children made many, many lasting friends.”

Doyle said neighborhood mothers took turns babysitting each other’s children so they could run errands. When working mothers became more common beginning in the 1960s, stay-at-home moms in Bayberry started a network of “block homes”: They placed a sign in the window letting latchkey kids know they could come to them in case of emergency.

“We all looked out for each other,” Doyle said.

Doyle remembered Bayberry as a walkable community with plenty of activities for children. Baycura said neighbors pooled their resources, sharing their expertise by offering swimming lessons, interior decorating tips and putting on plays.

“In the wintertime, the fire department used to flood the basketball court and make an ice skating rink,” Doyle said.

When the fire department stopped doing that, Bob Doyle built a rink in his backyard.

“It was just a wonderful, wonderful, warm community,” Joan Doyle said.

Even now, Doyle maintains good relationships with her neighbors. She has copies of their keys in case they go on vacation or if there is an emergency. And Doyle’s neighbors return the favor: They offered support when Bob Doyle died and helped take care of Joan Doyle after a recent surgery.

“I don’t intend to move,” Doyle said. “I’m staying in my home because I’m very comfortable and I know I can depend on my neighbors.”

Banks grew up in the Liverpool area and moved to Bayberry 34 years ago. He’s seen many residents come and go, but the sense of community remains.

“As a kid, I used to hang around Bayberry a lot. It’s a quiet area, I like it. It’s convenient and the people are great there,” Banks said. “That’s what’s nice about Bayberry — even with the turnover of people, everyone tries to reach out to their neighbors.”

The Bayberry Community Association, which celebrates its own 60th anniversary next year, directs residents to services and government officials, hosts community events such as a Halloween parade and a visit from Santa Claus, and maintains a social media presence to help neighbors connect.

“It’s still a desirable place to live. Most houses [sell] within a couple of weeks,” Banks said. “I wouldn’t have stayed here for 34 years if I didn’t like it.”

“Bayberry is a jewel of its own,” Doyle said.

Bayberry’s 60th anniversary celebration takes place from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13. A tent, water slides and other activities will be set up on the green area off Blackberry Road and the Quail Path entrances. The Shazbot and Wicked Awesome will provide live music starting at 12:30 p.m. and food will be served starting at 1 p.m. Residents are encouraged to bring their own chairs, swimsuits and towels.

For more information about Bayberry and its celebration, visit bayberrycommunity.org or contact BCA President Mike Banks at 652-2657.