Berkshire South Community Center Opens New Trail

Community SubmissionPrint Story | Email Story

Community residents hike the new Fountain Pond Three-Mile Hill Trail at Berkshire South Regional Community Center.
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire South Regional Community Center hosted the grand opening of the new Fountain Pond Three-Mile Hill Trail.

The new trail was developed through collaborative partnerships with local organizations including Great Barrington Trails and Greenways, Berkshire Natural Resources Council and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The trail provides access to a rich natural habitat and opportunities for hiking, trail running, birdwatching  and environmental education and has entry points at the center and Fountain Pond.

The event began with an introductory celebration that was attended by approximately 40 individuals representing a variety of organizations throughout the community, including the partners and the Appalachian Trail and Great Barrington land conservancies, Appalachian Mountain Club, Great Barrington Rotary, Housatonic Heritage, Greenagers and Greenways.

State Sen. Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield, was on hand to help present awards recognizing the teen trail-building contributions coordinated by the Appalachian Mountain Club and Greenagers. After the celebration, they hiked the trail to Fountain Pond.

"This trail symbolizes the crux of what Berkshire South is all about: creating a sense of community and common purpose,” said the center's Executive Director Jenise Lucey.

Christine Ward, a member of the Lake Mansfield Alliance of Great Barrington Trails and Greenways, echoed Lucey’s sentiments. "We are especially indebted to the community trail organizations and volunteers who put in the effort to provide this trail to the community."

For more information about the trail, call 413-528-2810 or visit the center at 15 Crissey Road.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Tickets On Sale for Berkshire Flyer

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Amtrak, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), announced tickets are now on sale for the Berkshire Flyer.
 
The Berkshire Flyer is a seasonal summer passenger rail service that operates between New York City from Moynihan Train Hall and Pittsfield. The service, which began as a successful pilot in 2022, is scheduled to resume on Friday, June 21 through Monday, Sept. 2 for Labor Day weekend. Trains depart New York City Friday nights and return at the end of the weekend, leaving Pittsfield Sunday afternoon.
 
In addition, for the first time this year, the Berkshire Flyer service now includes a train from New York City to Pittsfield on Sunday mornings.
 
"We're thrilled to announce this season's Berkshire Flyer service," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "The Berkshire Flyer makes visiting Western Massachusetts on weekends convenient, relaxing, and easy. We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation and CSX."
 
The Berkshire Flyer departs from Moynihan Train Hall at 3:16 p.m. on Fridays and arrives at Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center in Pittsfield at 7:27 p.m. The train will make all intermediate station stops as the scheduled Amtrak Empire Service train does in New York State on Fridays, which include Yonkers, Croton-Harmon, Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson, and Albany-Rensselaer Station. 
 
The Sunday return trip, making all the same station stops, will depart Pittsfield at 3:35 p.m. and arrive in New York at 7:55 p.m. The new Sunday Berkshire Flyer train from New York City to Pittsfield will depart Moynihan Train Hall at 10:50 a.m. and arrive in Pittsfield at 3:15 p.m.
 
The Berkshire Flyer is building upon two successful seasons where some of the Pittsfield-bound trains were sold out well in advance. Based on that experience, passengers planning a trip are encouraged to purchase tickets early by visiting Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.
 
View Full Story

More Great Barrington Stories