image description — Shiobbean Lemme led a large group around the loop.

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Pittsfield Encourages Healthy Lifestyle With Morningside Walking Loop

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Monday, August 11, 2014Print Story | Email Story

Mayor Daniel Bianchi leads a ground of children to a smooth landing at walking loop ceremony.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With families now owning multiple cars, it seems almost automatic to drive.

But city officials want people to rethink that automation. Instead of driving a few blocks, why not walk?

On Monday, officials celebrated the creation of the city's second walking loop to encourage more healthy lifestyles.

"We have to change the mindset for our children and let them know that it isn't a crime to walk two or three blocks to get to some place," said Mayor Daniel Bianchi.

The new loop is 2.74 miles around the Morningside neighborhood. Signs along Tyler, Merrill, First and Fenn streets direct walkers where to go in a safe manner. Once the Woodlawn Street bridge is rebuilt, the loop will go on that road, too.

"Along the route you will see street signs to keep you on track," said organizer Shiobbean Lemme.

Bianchi added that the city is currently looking at ways to improve the lighting on Tyler Street to further encourage the use of the route.

Dozens of people gathered at St. Mary's Church on Monday to take the first walk around the now official loop.

Director of Public Health Gina Armstrong said walking only a little provides great health benefits. The hope of the walking loop is to encourage more people to walk to various places — such as the Common, the farmer's market or to the various Morningside businesses.

"Walking 30 to 50 minutes, five days a week has tremendous health benefits," Armstrong. "That's not much in a week to fit in."

The loop was created by Be Well Berkshires, the city's health and community development offices, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and the Tyler Street Business group. The group said it is willing to work with any neighborhood to develop loops. The Morningside loop follows the development of the Downtown Loop in 2012.

"We are kind of in the second phase. We started with the downtown walking loop and now Morningside. We hope to have connectivity to the Common," Armstrong said.

Tags: health & wellness, walking,

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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