Wahconah Grandstand Demo Beginning Monday

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Wahconah Park grandstand will begin to come down next week. 

During the Parks Commission meeting on Tuesday, it was reported that demolition will begin on April 27.  The over-quarter-century-old structure was deemed unsafe in 2022, and planners have determined that starting from square one is the best option; a $15 million rebuild is on the table.

"All permits are in place for the grandstand demo. The demo work will actively take place beginning April 27," Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath wrote in a memo to the commission. 

Conceptual plans have been delivered, he reported, and cost estimates have come back favorably. 

"That I know has been a challenge with the cost estimates," Chair Simon Muil commented after reading the memo. "So that's great."

Earlier this month, Pittsfield held a "Farewell to the Grandstand" event to celebrate its past and look forward to the future. 

It included a round of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," hot dogs, and stories about the ballpark.  Artifacts from the ballpark were displayed in cases outside of the grandstand for the event, along with banners depicting the park's history and a roped-off area for community members to see the structure one last time. 

The Parks Commission also OKed several warm-weather events for kids and adults in the coming months.