Berkshire Benchmarks Releases State of the County Update

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Benchmarks data team recently released a State of the County Update for 2023. 
 
This brief report builds on the Berkshire Benchmarks State of the County Report published in May 2022 and highlights notable changes in regional indicators over the past year. The berkshirebenchmarks.org website has also been updated to reflect the most current available data. 
 
The purpose of the Benchmarks initiative and report is to highlight the region's successes and challenges.
 
The 2022 Berkshire Benchmarks State of the County report provided a comprehensive overview of our region's performance across eight sectors: Economy, Education, Environment, Government, Health, Housing, Social Environment, and Transportation.  
 
In the future, the Berkshire Benchmarks team will continue to monitor these and other indicators to aid with the regional understanding of changes in these sectors and whether the work happening throughout the region is having the intended impact. 
 
Berkshire Benchmarks is a collaborative initiative managed through Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC). Our sources are publicly available data, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Community Survey, various Massachusetts data sets, and periodic surveys of Berkshire County residents. 
 
Berkshire Benchmarks aims to work with the community to understand priorities and help inform the region on how we are doing and if we are improving. Berkshire Benchmarks enhances the region's access to quality data and analysis. 

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Mother Plans Memorial Bench at Clapp Park

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Parks Commission has OK'd a memorial bench for a young man who had many happy memories at Clapp Park. 

"I hate this. I lost my son in December to a fatal overdose, and so I am looking to have a memorial bench installed for him at Clapp Park. He was 23 when he passed," said Sarah DeJesus, through tears. 

"The first half of his life, we lived in that neighborhood … and so we have so many great memories at Clapp Park." 

DeJesus has worked to mitigate health complications from substance use for years as the program manager of Berkshire Harm Reduction. The bench will be placed above the park's splash pad overlooking the area in honor of Premier Ashton DeJesus.

As for cost, DeJesus said she will fund the bench, installation, and associated expenses. 

"I've always thought that the top of the hill could use some seating opportunities, and I think this is a perfect opportunity to sort of honor a young person who Clapp Park was very meaningful to him and to the family," Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath said. 

She and McGrath have selected a durable bench that can be fixed to the concrete, with a plaque on the back. 

DeJesus said her son went to summer camp at the park, movie nights, sledding, played sports there, met friends, and gained independence as a child. 

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