Pittsfield Open Visitors Center In Intermodal Center
 Mayor Daniel Bianchi, Chairwoman of the Pittsfield Tourism Commission Janet Brennan, BRTA Director Gary Shepard and RSVP Director Sheila Pia cut the ribbon on the new center on Wednesday morning. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City officials held a grand opening Wednesday morning of the new Pittsfield Visitors Center at the Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Center.
The move expands the center and brings it to a more centrally located area in the same building from which trains and buses arrive and depart. The goal is to further build the tourism economy that officials say makes a $553.28 million impact on Berkshire County.
"We had been historically with the Colonial Theater and we've outgrown it," said Janet Brennan, chairman of the Tourism Commission. "This is centrally located and there are so many shops and restaurants nearby."
The city has been eyeing the space since late fall and on Wednesday cut the ribbon, opening the center. It will be staffed by more than 30 RSVP volunteers and open seven days a week.
"This is just going to help us with our tourism efforts," Mayor Daniel Bianchi said. "It's great to have some place like this manned by RSVP who love this community and are able to talk about it."
The first center opened sometime in the early 1980s as a gazebo in Park Square, according to Brennan. It was then moved to a spot next to Ben and Jerry's on South Street before moving down the road to the Colonial Theater.
The city partnered with the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority for the space. The Intermodal Center is the "transportation hub" and also houses satellite classrooms for Berkshire Community College and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
According to BRTA Director Gary Shepard, 550,000 people use the bus system annually and thousands more use the Amtrak trains and Peter Pan buses. The classrooms bring in additional students to the building.
"We consider ourselves somewhat of an economic hub, a welcoming center and a gateway to the Berkshires. We think it is more than appropriate that the office of tourism is here today," Shepard said. "We know as Pittsfield goes so goes Berkshire County. We think of ourselves of a gateway to the Berkshires and we are thrilled to be part of this."
The space is filled with brochures and information about the county and new signage is expected in various parts of the city directing visitor's there.
The center will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Tags: BRTA, tourism, visitors center,
