Pittsfield Board Approves New Disc Golf Course

By Joe DurwiniBerkshires Correspondent
10:00AM / Thursday, November 21, 2013Print Story | Email Story

The Parks Commission approved the disc golf course on Tuesday.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County could have its only public disc golf course by summer, following approval by the city's Parks Commission of a plan spearheaded by former commissioner James Conant.

The new course will be installed within Kirvin Park and will feature nine holes (a basket with a ring on top and chains hanging down, all mounted on a seven foot pole) across varying terrain, played with a Frisbee-style disc.

In response to a long expressed interest from Pittsfield residents, Conant worked with Parks and Open Spaces Manager James McGrath to develop a plan for a suitable site.

"We kind of quickly came to to the conclusion that Kirvin was the best fit," Conant told the Parks Commission. "Kirvin really lends itself nicely, because it's just kind of a rolling terrain, with nice wispy grass, which you don't have to mow in the traditional golf sense."

Conant described it as a "great passive recreation for families and kids," which would require no special equipment and no maintenance. Additionally, the installation will be at no cost to the city.

"I don't know of any that are here in town," said Conant, "The closest one I know of is in Northampton, and that's very popular."

Disc golf as a sport was first pioneered in the early 1960s by Kevin Donnelly, recreation supervisor for the city of Newport Beach, Calif., but has grown wildly in popularity during the past decade. According to Disc Golf Course Review, the number of courses for the sport worldwide doubled between 2000 and 2008.

A disc golf basket at Bousquet Disc Golf Course, Pittsfield's private, pay-to-play course.

McGrath said the design for the course was developed with consulting help from a firm called Explore Disc Golf, which also helped select the site.

"There made to be some minimal clearing required," said McGrath, but most of the course would take advantage of natural features of the park.

Conant said the course will be installed with volunteer help and paid for by private donation.

"Other than approval to put it up, I'm not going to ask the city for anything," Conant said. "Which is unique in itself."

"I think it's a great idea," said commission chair Dr. John Herman.

The Parks Commission voted unanimously to approve the installation, which because the park is also considered a conservation area, will now also have to be approved by the Conservation Commission, who previously looked favorably on the proposal in its informational stage. As long as approved, installation will take place this spring.

Tags: disc golf, parks commission,

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Pittsfield Subcommittee Considers E-Bike Safety

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
03:34PM / Wednesday, October 07, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Some city councilors want to explore ways to encourage safe e-bike use.

On Monday, the Ordinances and Rules Subcommittee discussed the request by Councilor At Large Kathy Amuso and Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn to increase enforcement of bicycle and e-bike use on Pittsfield streets, install signage in high-traffic areas, and launch an educational program for kids.

Amuso has received reports of kids riding motorized bikes at 15 to 20 mph on the sidewalk while people are trying to back out of their driveways, and she fears someone might get hurt.

She said that if they could start with some basics, such as riding with traffic in bike lanes and requiring operators under 16 to wear helmets, it would address most of the calls.

"Do I think we need to put 10 police on trying to find e-bikes throughout the city? I don't," she said. "But there are enough calls that I'm getting, and other councilors are getting, that we have to say, ‘OK, what can we do?’ And we have a lot of bike lanes in Pittsfield, and the e-bikes and all bikes should be in the bike lanes, not on the sidewalk."

The petition was tabled so that the Department of Public Works can study it and gather further information.

In Massachusetts, an e-bike with a top speed of 20 mph and a motor of 750 watts or less is classified as a traditional bicycle. State law defines two e-bike classes:

"Class 1 electric bicycle" is defined as having a motor of 750 watts or less that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to assist when the bicycle reaches 20 mph.
"Class 2 electric bicycle" is defined as having a motor of 750 watts or less that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of assisting when the bicycle reaches 20 mph.

Riders 16 years or younger must wear a helmet by law.

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