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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Historic Wahconah Park Grandstand Almost Leveled

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:35PM / Wednesday, September 16, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — If you want to catch a last glimpse of the remaining Wahconah Park grandstand, you need to hurry.

The historic grandstand is currently being demolished, with only a couple of the major structures remaining. Pittsfield is also working on what comes next for the park, and how baseball will return next year.

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath said if people want to see the last of the structure, they should head down by the end of this week because "by Thursday or Friday it probably will entirely be down."

"It's moving quickly now that they're into the active demo phase," he told the Parks Commission on Tuesday.

"…Certainly, I think by the end of September we'll see cleanup and, if you will, the big hole where the stadium sat. That all will be filled to grade."

The more than 75-year-old structure was deemed unsafe in 2022, and planners determined that starting from square one is the best option.

On Sept. 3, the Conservation Commission issued 36 orders of conditions for the reconstruction of the ballpark.

Conservation Agent Shannon Poulin pointed out that the application has gone through many revisions; reconstruction cannot begin until a certificate of compliance for the demolition is issued.

The project crew will have an on-site meeting on Friday morning and consider two avenues of revitalization: The funding, last estimated around $15 million, and a financial strategy coming together through the mayor so that Pittsfield can move into an active build next year, or a longer process where the field is utilized before a new grandstand is built.

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