PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has received $238,826 for Shared Streets and Spaces projects from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to support 20 placemaking projects.
The city announced Tuesday that the state Department of Transportation approved and funded the its grant application for the Shared Streets and Spaces Program in the amount of $238,826.
The grant program was instituted in part to aid communities in developing areas for pedestrian access and outdoor economic activities, such as outdoor dining, during the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, applications were weighed on the potential and intent for making these improvements permanent.
This program will support 20 placemaking projects in the downtown corridor designed to enhance mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists, integrate additional open and public spaces for community life, and improve navigation.
The grant program provides grants as small as $5,000 and as large as $300,000 for cities and towns to quickly implement or expand improvements to sidewalks, curbs, streets, on-street parking spaces and off-street parking lots in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce in their communities.
Projects are split into two categories:
Enhanced Mobility Components: Projects that will enhance mobility by taking paved space typically used for car travel and altering it for more diverse use.
These projects include traffic calming measures, bicycle and pedestrian-friendly paths and improvements, parking changes, and traffic changes.
Placemaking Components: Projects that draw foot traffic by creating focal points throughout the downtown to create a more inviting outdoor experience.
The projects include the installation of various parklets and plazas throughout the downtown as well as interactive play streets. Projects also include gateway intersections and corridors that invite pedestrians to explore and continue their walk through the downtown.
Projects vary in cost from $4,000 to just over $20,000
A full outlay on the projects can be found here but some highlights are protected bike lanes from Maplewood Avenue to Wahconah Street, a play street installation on Melville Street, and the North Street gateway enhanced corridor that will include shade structures, bike racks, public art, and seating.
Work is expected to begin now and continue through early October, adhering to the grant's required timeline.
One of the projects would push parking away from the curb on the south side of Bank Row, opening it up for public and dining space.
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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.
Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.
The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.
Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.
"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.
"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."
Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly. A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.
It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.
Having fun on April vacation doesn't have to break the bank. From baby animals to recreational activities and crafts, there is an array of free or low-cost family events happening across the county this week. click for more
On Thursday, the panel approved a notice of intent application for the use of EarthTec QZ within a specified treatment area of the lake.
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