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For children 3 years of age and older, the Tree House Park features a maze of trails that are fully protected by netting.

Biz Briefs: Berkshire East Opens New Children's Aerial Adventure Park

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Up in the trees: Berkshire East has expanded its outdoor adventures with the building of the Berkshire East Children's Aerial Adventure Park .

Seeing the need to provide an exciting and green recreational activity for younger children, Berkshire East hired Tree-Mendous Forest Adventure Parks, an industry leader, to design and build two separate parks for various ages and abilities.

For children 3 years of age and older, the Tree House Park features a maze of trails that are fully protected by netting. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and grandparents to share the joys of a forest adventure with their children and grandchildren. Trained guides will be present at all times.

Later this fall, children 7 years and older will be able to enjoy the Aerial Adventure Park, which features a unique blend of elevated wooden platforms that are positioned high in trees. These platforms are connected by Indiana Jones bridges, Tarzan swings and zip-lines. Participants will be able to move safely at their own pace through the various self-guided aerial trails, choosing paths that fit their own challenge level. The Aerial Adventure Park uses the most advanced safety system in the industry to ensure that everyone’s harness is clipped onto a safety line at all times.


 


Left to right, Meghan McGrath, Greylock Federal Community Support Specialist; John Bissell, Greylock Federal President/CEO; Cynthia Spinola, BGCB Board of Directors; Chris Jacoby, BGCB Executive Director.

Triple Play time: The Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires announced has received a $75,000 donation from Greylock Federal Credit Union to fund its Triple Play and Meals program. The donation will be made in $25,000 increments over three years.


Triple Play is a national health and wellness program incorporating three parts - Mind, Body and Soul. It challenges youth to be healthy and active by learning to eat nutritionally, to become physically fit, and to form positive social relationships. In support of the fitness piece, there will be daily appropriate physical challenges, and opportunities for members to create their own challenges. Children will be educated about vitamins and minerals, the food pyramid, appropriate portion size, and will be encouraged to take charge of their own choices.

The meals component of the program will provide nutritious dinners in a positive and supportive environment, five days a week at the club's "Light House Cafe." There will be dinner presentations so meals can be teachable moments. Staff and volunteers will work with youth to develop dinner etiquette and manners, and help foster substantive discussions during dinner. Discussion topics may be as simple as "what did you learn today?" or "what would you like to be when you grow up?" The donated funds from Greylock will help buy food for the program.


Giving back: The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires is launching a unique directory called "Giving Back: Your Guide to Charitable Opportunities in the Berkshires."

"Giving Back" is a directory of all Berkshire county nonprofits, designed to help organizations share information with potential donors about ways to get involved and support their mission. Berkshire County's 984 nonprofits will be listed free of charge by category.  Categories represent large nonprofit subsectors such as Arts & Culture, Environment, and Health & Human Services.

Nonprofits can gain additional exposure in the guide by purchasing a profile page for $125 ($75 for Nonprofit Center members).  The profile page allows nonprofits to share their mission, a photo, program description, upcoming events, fast facts and ways to support the organization. The deadline for submission is September 9.  Nonprofits can sign up, complete their profiles and pay online.

 

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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