New BMC Parking Plan Takes Effect

09:53AM / Wednesday, July 08, 2009Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass - Helping to resolve a longstanding parking congestion issue for Berkshire Medical Center, the hospital's new parking plan officially went into effect on Monday, June 29th when its new parking garage opened, freeing up hundreds of parking spaces for patients and visitors closer to the main hospital entrance.

The new parking garage, located on Wahconah Street, provides parking for BMC and Berkshire Health Systems employees and physicians, creating more spaces close to the Medical Center for patients and visitors. Patient and visitors will now find additional spaces in the BMC garage on Charles Street, the Medical Arts Complex parking lot and lots on Charles Street and outside of the Warriner Building and Bishop Clapp buildings at BMC.

For many years, BMC has worked to provide improved parking for its patients, visitors, physicians and employees, including the addition of free valet parking and the development of new or expanded surface parking lots. Despite these efforts, parking availability has continued to be a challenge.

The new five story parking garage contains 618 parking spaces and was built on the site of a previous surface parking lot. Overall, the addition of the new garage provides access to nearly 350 new parking spaces for patients, visitors, physicians and employees, and will help to remove the chronic parking congestion issue that has existed for many years at BMC.

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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