Adams Designing Glen Outdoor Center
ADAMS, Mass. — The town is continuing design work of the Greylock Glen Resort’s outdoor center and hopes to have schematics in hand by late winter or early spring.
Director of Community Development Donna Cesan said a project steering committee currently is working with Maclay Architects, who were hired earlier last year, on the proposed net-zero energy outdoor center.
"With schematic design and a solid construction cost estimate in place this spring, the town will focus on securing the funding needed to build the Outdoor Center facility," she said.
A $5 million line item was included in the state's 2014 Environmental Bond for the Glen Outdoor Center. Currently, the state has released $250,000 for preliminary design and another $500,000 has been approved for release to complete design of the building.
Once the schematic design is complete and there is a solid cost estimate, Cesan said the town will be working with state representatives on releasing the funds necessary to complete construction of the building.
The town has been reimagining the Glen project for decades now but not until recent years have officials settled on the current plan that includes a lodge, conference center, amphitheater and a redeveloped trail network. The trail network was done through the state department of Conservation and Recreation.
Cesan said the town did put out the request for proposals for the campground last year and a request for quotation for the lodge and conference center this year and although there was interest in the two projects, there was also at the time concern over the difficulty to attract private financing.
"With this feedback and witnessing the popularity of the new trail loop DCR completed in June, we are focused on the public elements of the resort project," she said. "The outdoor center and further development of the trails system."
Cesan said the amount of funds released from a bond each year depends on tax revenue and other state receipts taken in and any project identified within the bond is also in competition with other line items in the bond.
"So, in a real sense, the Outdoor Center project is in competition with other state agency projects identified in the bond," she said. "The town has been encouraged to work closely with DCR on this matter and they, along with our delegation, will be assisting the Town to obtain the needed funding."
Cesan said the outdoor center is intended to be a multi-use public building containing a welcome area, exhibit space, classrooms and a café.
"The center will serve as a visitors’ base camp for excursions within the Glen and to the Mount Greylock State Reservation," Cesan said. "The facility will have a general public focus but is expected to be the location of future environmental education programming provided by other organizations and institutions."
Cesan said the building will also have room for a private recreational outfitter.
Tags: Greylock Glen,
