PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Crews are working to remediate Wahconah Park's grandstand for asbestos before it is taken down.

Demolition is expected to begin next month, but not before proper abatement work is completed.  

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath reported on Thursday that Apex Abatement has been working closely with the Department of Environmental Protection to update and revise a safe plan to remediate asbestos from the property. 

"Differing site conditions have led to changing work plans throughout the work process," he replied by email to iBerkshires.

"Manual abatement of asbestos-containing materials is scheduled to be complete by the end of the month, with large structural demolition following immediately after." 

The grandstand's entrance is currently covered with plastic, and an excavator is out front. 

The over-a-quarter-century-old structure was deemed unsafe in 2022, and planners have determined that starting from square one is the best option; a $15 million rebuild is on the table.

The updated, half-cost design for Wahconah Park places the bathrooms and concessions in elevated, standalone buildings beside the grandstand.  It is expected to take less than a year to build.