Downtown Pittsfield Construction Wraps Up For Year
 Much of the hardscape and lighting at Persip Park will be completed this month; landscaping and plantings will be done in the spring. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A variety of construction initiatives in the city's downtown have culminated with the onset of the winter season, but work will resume in several areas over the coming spring and summer.
Continued streetscape development, along with renovations of pedestrian plazas and an elaborate redesign of the Pittsfield Common are among the projects that lie in various stages of completion, according to the city's Office of Community Development.
"Anything that doesn't get completed by the end of this year will resume in the spring," said Community Development Specialist Laurie Mick.
In mid-December, ornamental lighting portions will go up along the most recent segment of streetscaping, the Phase 3 section of North Street running from Madison Avenue to Berkshire Medical Center. Planting and other landscaping work will be installed to complete this section beginning in April.
Mick said lighting has been a key aspect of the makeover that has been conducted on the downtown street over the past several years, and the project has benefited from having the same lighting firm secure the bid for each phase of the redesign.
"They studied the pedestrian footprint, to ensure there's no dark spaces," Mick told iBerkshires. "So the sidewalks are well lit, and people will feel safe, and also provide enough lighting for vehicular traffic."
Phase 4 of the project, which will entail a $4.5 million renovation of the section of North Street from Madison to Columbus Avenue, is expected to begin in June. That phase will be at 25 percent design completion by February, at which time the department intends to hold a public meeting for residents interested in previewing and commenting on the plan.
Contractors were also working busily throughout November completing key portions of the reconstruction of Persip Park, the larger of two North Street pedestrian plazas being renovated. Brick pavers, new lighting connections, and the installation of a new electronic information kiosk are among the features being completed this year.
Work will resume in early spring with new plantings, including a grass lawn portion of the plaza. With the completion of Persip, renovation will begin across the street, at Sottile Park.
"They were being mindful to keep one of the parks open at all times," Mick told iBerkshires. "So one will be completed before the other one begins construction."
A key feature of the Persip redesign will be the informational kiosk, a durable model which Mick says employs "leading technology" to help enable visitors to easily find information about tourist destinations and downtown amenities. Programming of the kiosk will come under the purview of the city's Cultural Development department, with input from its volunteer-based Tourism Commission.
A trellis will also be added to Persip to make it mirror the one at its smaller sister plaza, an addition meant to give the street a more contiguous aesthetic.
Sottile's renovations will involve less dramatic changes to its existing architecture, and will involve restoration of its brick surface, improved lighting, new benches, and better handicap accessibility.
"All of our streetscape elements are included in both parks," said Mick.
On the horizon, the department is also seeking state funding for replacement of the Columbus Street garage, the smaller of its two parking garages. Currently the garage — which has been a key parking area for downtown employees, shoppers, and tourists attending nearby cultural venues — is operating at half capacity because of the closure of its upper level.
Tags: construction, North Street, pocket park, road work, streetscape,
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