Methadone Clinic To Open In Pittsfield On Tuesday

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's first methadone clinic will open on Tuesday.

Spectrum Health Systems announced on Friday that the new outpatient clinic will begin treatment and counseling beginning Oct. 9.

The clinic's Summer Street location had been the cause of controversy since news leaked of the 43-year-old nonprofit health agency's intention to locate a methadone clinic in the downtown. City officials attempts to block the move ended when a federal court found in Spectrum's favor.

Now the company will begin the services that many in the city protested against, fearing the clinic would draw an unsavory clientele and hamper downtown revitalization. The court settlement did ask the company to consider moving to facilities offered by Berkshire Health Systems when space becomes available; city officials are still hoping for that.

Debate has centered mostly around the location and not as much on the need for the clinic. Officials have agreed that the city has an opiod abuse problem and cite statistics that show it has one of the highest per capita rate of abuse in the state.

"There is a need in the treatment community, and Department of Public Health data shows that," Kristin Nolan, Spectrum's director of outpatient services, said in the prepared announcement of the opening. "Local residents will no longer have to travel roundtrip as far away as Springfield and Holyoke on a daily basis to get treatment. That travel time is certainly a hindrance to an individual trying to integrate back into being a productive member of the community."

Spectrum provides counseling, treatment and after-care planning. For more information, contact the intake department at 1-800-464-9555, Ext. 1161.

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Pittsfield Holds Second Master Plan Workshop

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:43PM / Wednesday, April 01, 2026

Participants added notes to the sectors — such as transportation, open space and neighborhoods — being reviewed by the Master Plan Steering Committee. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The city is about halfway through developing its new master plan, and held a second community workshop this past Thursday. 

"Basically, we're talking to people from Pittsfield and trying to figure out, among a broad sector of issues that affect us, what is our goal and vision for the next 10 years, where we want Pittsfield to be in 10 years, and what changes do we want to see?" Director of Community Development Justine Dodds explained to about 20 community members and city staff at Conte Community School. 

"That will be broken down into some goals and objectives and then some measurable action items that we can all take as a community to move that forward."  

The Pittsfield Master Plan is the policy guide for future physical development, covering land use, infrastructure, sustainability, and more. The plan was last updated in 2009, and Pittsfield has engaged the VHB engineering firm and CommunityScale consultants to bring it through 2036. 

There have been two public listening sessions, a Master Plan Advisory Committee guiding the work, and small focus groups for each section. On poster boards, residents were able to see and mark the draft goals and actions under six themes: economic development, housing opportunities, transportation and infrastructure, environment and open space, neighborhoods and community, and governance and collaboration. 

In November 2025, community members participated in a similar exercise at City Hall. 

Transportation and infrastructure had several notes on them. Suggestions included using infrastructure to address the urban heat island effect, a light rail system, and continuing to implement Complete Streets standards for roadway construction projects. 

"I want to ride my bike to my friend's house safely," one respondent wrote. 

Under economic development, people suggested digital business infrastructure for the downtown, food hall opportunities, and nightlife opportunities.