 North Adams Parks Commissioners Open to New Duties, MembersThe Parks & Recreation Commission is hoping for more support as its asked to take on a bigger role in overseeing the city's recreational areas.  Pittsfield Parks Commission Sees Possible Future ProjectsParks and Open Spaces Manager James McGrath gave the Parks Commission a quick preview of some possible fiscal 2020 Community Preservation Act projects and noted the floating dock at Burbank Park is at the top of his list.  Westside Riverway Park to Go Back Out to BidThe Westside Riverway Park project bids have come in too high and the city will have to put the project back out to bid.  Adams Parks Commission Sets Fall Season Field UsesThe Parks Commission on Monday took care of most of the fall requests for field usage. Four separate groups were represented and although a few issues cropped up, all requests were approved.  Wetlands Derails Restoration of Pontoosuc BeachWetland issues have derailed planned improvements to Pontsoosuc Lake Park. The Friends of Pontoosuc Lake received $15,000 from the Community Preservation Act with the intent to restore the beach on the Hancock Road side. The city's Parks, Open Space and Natural Resource Program Manager Jim McGrath, however, said it was found that the former beach has essentially turned into wetlands.  Pittsfield Looks to Strengthen Rules on Park BehaviorThe Parks Commission is looking to strengthen the rules for both park and conservation areas. The city recently saw large groups of youth causing mayhem in Springside Park by fighting and using air rifles. The city is now added language to specifically outlaw those and BB guns to strengthen Police authority to enforce the rules.  Restoration of Springside Pond Plan Moves To Permitting ProcessThe design efforts to restore the Springside Pond is entering the permitting phase. Parks and Open Spaces Manager Jim McGrath updated the Parks Commission on Tuesday about the progress and said the city will be seeking permits from the Conservation Commission in the coming weeks. However, the project itself is going to be costly and a funding source has not been identified.  Pittsfield Council Asked To Contribute More Toward Clapp Park ProjectAfter bids came in too high twice, the City Council is being asked to up the city's contribution toward the renovation of Clapp Park. The city had received a $400,000 state grant to undertake a massive restoration of the West Housatonic Street park. That was matched by city funds for bathrooms, the community preservation act funding, $180,000 donation from the Rotary Club, and a $5,000 donation from Carr Hardware.  Adams Parks Commission Mulls Procedures to Deny Field UseThe commissioners on Monday looked to codify past practices and to shore up a protocol that would clearly spell out a chain of command to follow when teams have to be denied field usage after approval.  Dog Feces Also Plague Adams Playing FieldParks Commissioner Cynthia Bird told the rest of the commissioners Monday night that poop is a townwide issue and even litters the outfield of Russell Field.  Williamstown Parks & Rec Committee Learns of Spruces Land ConstraintsThe Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee learned about the town-owned properties that could potentially be developed for recreation. And it learned why one large, highly accessible property likely won't be developed any time soon.  North Adams Parks Commission Asks For Changes in Brayton Park PlansThe plans include a new playground, basketball court, youth baseball field, soccer-sized multi-use field, practice wall, walking path and parking area. Across Brayton Terrace on the Hoosic River side will be two pocket parks, picnic tables, information panels on the river and wildlife and a focal element that would be a replication of a waterwheel.  Berkshire Lightscape Turns Focus To Lighting Up Park SquareBerkshire Lightscapes is honing in on a plan to add lighting to Park Square. The non-profit raised a little more than $100,000 for its plan to add lighting to City Hall, Dunham Mall, and Park Square. The Dunham Mall lights were added in the winter, decorating the walkway with rotating snowflakes, and Park Square is next.  Pittsfield Animal Control Commission Backs Pilot Dog Park PlanThe Animal Control Commission is backing the idea of having a pilot dog park at the East Street softball complex. The city's Office of Community Development has proposed the idea of using one of the fields there to test out a dog park. The city had started the process of securing funding and building a dog park but that is at least another year out. So for now, the city is looking to use the fields that haven't been used in some two years in the meantime.  Pittsfield Looks to Crack Down on Off-leash Dogs in Kirvin ParkThe Parks Commission wants to crack down on off-leash dogs at Kirvin Park. The park off of Williams Street had long been used by dog owners as a place to let their four-legged friends run off leash. However, dogs are required to be on leash in a city park and the increasing use of the park of dogs has led to problems.  Pittsfield Eyes Development of Pickleball Courts at Springside ParkPickleball put the city in a somewhat of a pickle. The Parks Commission approved a plan to develop pickleball courts near the Doyle Softball Complex in Springside Park but not without opposition. The approval goes against the Springside Park Conservancy's wishes that the project takes a backburner to others specifically outlined in the park's master plan.  Pittsfield Little League Looks to Spruce Up Deming ParkThe Little League is looking to spruce up Deming Park. Greg Coscia has begun conversations with the city to make a number of improvements to the park. First, the league wants to make railings leading to the scorekeepers building permanent. Those were installed prior to the district tournament when stairs were replaced and repaired. Coscia hopes to put a taller fence behind it to make it more difficult for trespassers to get in.  North Adams Considering Consolidation of Recreation BoardsThe parks commission oversees all the sports facilities and public parks in the city but not Windsor Lake or Historic Valley Campground. It also doesn't have much to do with the Armory or the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink.  Pittsfield Finalizes Plans For Clapp Park RenovationsA final design for more than a half million dollars worth of improvements to Clapp Park was finalized Monday. The Parks Commission gave its stamp of approval on the design crafted by Berkshire Design Group. The design, however, isn't entirely what parks officials had been hoping for when first crafted.  Pittsfield's Clapp Park Renovation Getting Scaled BackParks and Open Space Manager James McGrath told the Parks Commission on Tuesday that the design currently crafted is estimated to go over the $675,000 budget for the project. He is now working with Berkshire Design on scaling the concept back slightly to make the numbers work.  Coffee Kiosk Set to Open at Pittsfield CommonTodd Fiorentino is looking to open a coffee kiosk at the First Street Common in a few weeks. The city has approved a lease agreement allowing Fiorentino to set up the 6-foot by 8-foot wooden kiosk on the sidewalk in front of the park. Poseidon Coffee is expected to be open on Sept. 10.  Adams to Address Safety Concerns at Russell FieldWith the Russell Field Renovation Project delayed at least another season, the Parks Commission agreed to put efforts into resolving a few safety issues at the park — specifically with the softball field.  Pittsfield Adopts Policy For Commercial Use of ParksThe Parks Commission will welcome commercial enterprises onto city property. But, only if it "enhances the park." The commission has been weighing the levels in which commercial enterprises can operate on parkland since January. Then, Todd Fiorentino was looking to open a coffee kiosk, Poseidon Coffee.  Pittsfield Parks Weighing Commercial Enterprises PolicyThe discussion has been prompted by a request to install a coffee kiosk at the Common on East Street. The commission approved moving forward with an RFP for the kiosk but with the condition that a subcommittee work with Parks and Open Spaces Manager James McGrath on developing a broader policy.  North Adams Chooses Designer For Splash ParkDirector of Community Development Larysa Bernstein updated the Parks and Recreation Commission on Monday about the new project at Noel Field Athletic Complex. |
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