Pittsfield Board Approves New Disc Golf Course

By Joe DurwiniBerkshires Correspondent
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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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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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