PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state is looking to plant some 800 trees per year in the city of Pittsfield over the next three years.
Pittsfield was chosen as part of the Greening the Gateway Cities program through which the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation plants trees in urban environments. The program targets the 26 so-called Gateway Cities and will plant the trees in areas where there are currently low canopy levels.
"The Greening the Gateway Cities Program serves as an excellent example of a strong partnership between state government, local municipalities, and dedicated organizations working together to ultimately benefit generations of people," said Gov. Charlie Baker in a statement on Wednesday.
Locally, DCR is looking to plant a total of 2,400 trees over the next three years in neighborhoods bordering the downtown, a total of 1,000 acres.
"The Greening the Gateways Cities project is a perfect example of how the commonwealth partners with cities, and I'm thrilled to see Pittsfield be part of this year's award," said state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier. "Planting trees in the Westside and Morningside Neighborhoods brings beauty, improves quality of life, cools our city and helps absorb carbon, making it a win all around."
The state has promised to invest more than $12 million to plant a total of 20,000 trees averaging 6 feet in height. The program is eyed to produce energy savings to businesses and households because of the shading provided to reduce cooling costs, and will produce jobs but hiring local crews to do the planting.
The goal is to increase the urban canopy by 4 to 10 percent in the cities. In the last two years, the program planted 3,700 trees in Chelsea, Revere, Fall River, Chicopee, and Holyoke. This year the rest of the gateway cities were added.
"By adding the cities of Brockton, Haverhill, Lawrence, Leominster, Lynn, New Bedford, Pittsfield, and Quincy into the Greening the Gateway Cities Program, our Administration continues to invest in the future of these cities to further enhance our environmental resources, which will benefit us all on a local and global scale," said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.
Additional benefits hopes from the trees include reduction in storm water runoff, higher air quality, increased property values, and healthier communities.
"Pittsfield is a city in the middle of a beautiful rural region," said state Sen. Benjamin Downing. "Preserving green space and investing in making the city greener are perfectly in line with the city's values and vision."
State Rep. Paul Mark added, "I am grateful to [Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew] Beaton for selecting Pittsfield to participate in the Greening the Gateway Cities program. As an urban island in rural Berkshire County, Pittsfield is always seeking ways to balance its natural beauty with the demands of a city environment. This program will help us enhance that beauty and make our city greener than ever."
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.
Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.
Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.
"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.
The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.
"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."
The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.
"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.
The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.
"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."
Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.
"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."
The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.
"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.
Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, and a little bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.
click for more
A 700-square-foot outdoor water attraction is planned for the 2.1-acre park at 30 John Street. City officials hope to have it operational by summertime.
click for more
Jewish Federation of the Berkshires President Arlene Schiff opened the festivities with a recognition of the victims of Sunday's mass shooting in Australia and praise for a hero who helped stop the killing.
click for more