Backstop Repairs Drain Last of Pittsfield's Bossidy Funds
 The Parks Commission last week approved spending the last of the so-called 'Bossidy bucks' to replace backstops at several city parks. |
The last remnant of Larry Bossidy's 2001 donation of a million dollars to the city had already been earmarked by the city's Parks Commission for this purpose earlier in the year, but that sum will not cover as much work as originally anticipated, according to Director of Building & Maintenance Peter Sondrini.
"Unfortunately, it came in a good bit higher than we anticipated," said Sondrini of the bid for fencing work, which attracted only one bidder, Berkshire Fence Co. While the maintenance department had previously estimated a workload in the range of $38,000, the sole bid came to $54,390.
This will exhaust the remaining $52,000 left in the account, with the rest being made up for out of the department's regular budget.
"Instead of repairing some of those backstops, we couldn't, and found we had to replace them," Sondrini told the Parks Commission.
Baseball fields at Marchisio Park, Herberg Middle School, Lakewood Park and Osceola will see backstops replaced as part of this project, while updates will be made to existing backstop fencing at Clapp Park, Pitt Park, Crosby Elementary School and Lebanon Park.
Sondrini said the replaced fencing will be a higher gauge that should last longer than previous equipment at these parks, some of which have become a safety hazard.
"That's what it was originally designed for, upgrades and whatnot for playing fields," said Chair John Herman.
In an effort to allay often cited public concerns about the proper usage of the "Bossidy Bucks," a full accounting of the purchases and projects undertaken with the donation fund will be provided to the commission sometime in early in 2015.
"I think it's a good time to make a full accounting of the Bossidy donation," said Parks and Open Spaces Manager James McGrath, who offered to provide a close-out report on the fund to the commission by its February meeting.
"I think over my tenure with the city, there's been a lot of misperception about what's been done with that money," McGrath said. "Some say parts of it have been misappropriated, and I would really question that. There have been many, many worthwhile projects that have been undertaken in our parks with that donation."
Tags: parks & rec, parks commission, sports fields,
