Last of Pittsfield Parks Bossidy Bucks Spent on Backstops

By Joe DurwinPittsfield Correspondent
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The Parks Commission is concerned about funding continued maintenance of the city's parks and athletic fields.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A million-dollar fund used since 2001 to support the city's athletic fields has finally been exhausted.

Its depletion comes amid growing concern from park commissioners about the future funding of maintenance of the city's open spaces.

The Park Commission on Tuesday approved allocating the last remnant of the fund, about $65,000 dollars, to the city's Building Maintenance Department for the repair of backstop fencing issues they say have become hazardous at several baseball fields throughout the park system.
 
Anthony Stracuzzi, the department's parks supervisor, stated that the commission had voted several years earlier in favor of reserving a portion of the $ 1 million donation from Pittsfield resident Larry Bossidy for the purposes of upkeep and maintenance on the parks' fields.
 
"What happened to commissioners that swore an oath, and they voted, and they were supposed to save $200,000 to put aside to maintain these fields?"  asked Stracuzzi. "To be honest with you, I'm looking for what you have left."
 
"We have never asked for a penny of Bossidy money," added Stracuzzi, of the maintenance crew.
 
Stracuzzi said the city "could spend half a million dollars easily" repairing fencing issues throughout the park systems. It is focusing on the ones it considers to be the greatest potential safety hazards to youth ball players.
 
"I have a list of a good 20 other fences in the city of Pittsfield, that need work," Stracuzzi told the commission.
 
The commissioners approved $38,000 immediately for backstops at several fields, and voted to earmark all that remains for the department to draw from as needed to address additional issues later.
 
"I guess the point here is if these things regard safety then we have to get after it,"  said Chairman Dr. John Herman
 
"Through years of use- or misuse- these fields have become safety issues," agreed Commissioner Anthony DiMartino.
 
As the last of the Bossidy Bucks, the only parks funding the commission directly controls, has dwindled over the past two years, the commission has expressed growing concern about how park maintenance and small improvement projects will be funded, particularly in light of additional upkeep costs arising from new capital projects undertaken in recent years, including the soon to be completed Pittsfield Common.
 
Herman asked Buildings and Maintenance Director Peter Sondrini if more advocacy by the Parks Commission to the mayor and City Council would be helpful in drawing attention to many unfunded park needs.
 
"Maybe five more voices might be helpful," suggested Herman.  
 
"It should be expected, there should be no discussion," said Herman of the budgetary allocation needed to maintain city athletic field at a reasonable level of playability.  "We're all into health, we all want kids playing sports, we all think it's a great activity for them to be involved with, physically and mentally."
 
For now, Stracuzzi said the remainder of the Bossidy money set aside would allow the department to undertake key repairs on those fields as necessary.  
 
"Rather than somebody coming in saying they want money for a dog park, or whatever they want it for," said Stracuzzi.  "Let's keep it in the athletic fields, and what we're doing with the maintenance of them."

Tags: parks commission,   public parks,   sports fields,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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