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iBerkshire reporter Brittany Polito's pup Clover, right, meets friends at Pittsfield's new dog park.
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Running with the big dogs.
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There's lots of space in the small dog enclosure.

Tails Wag for New Pittsfield Dog Park

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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The park has separate areas for large and small dogs. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city unveiled its first dog park at Burbank Park this past week after nearly two decades of planning. Officials say there has been a positive community response from both four-legged and two-legged residents.   
 
"It's so nice to see all the happy dogs just running off-leash and playing with each other, their tongues hanging out, they're smiling, and their tails are wagging," Recreation and Special Events Coordinator Becky Manship said.
 
"It's just really a positive thing for Pittsfield and beyond because we know that there are some users from outside the community, so it's not just for Pittsfield."
 
The fenced area for off-leash dogs features a grassy layout for pooches to roam, a walking path, benches, complimentary waste bags, and even a dog-sized water fountain.
 
One side is designated for small dogs under 30 pounds and the other is for large dogs over that weight limit.
 
At the Parks Commission meeting on Tuesday, Parks and Open Space Program Manager James Mcgrath said he reached out to a local tick expert and asked him to develop an integrated pest management plan for the dog park.
 
It will utilize education and source reduction by minimizing woody debris in the area that could bring small rodents inside and trimming vegetation.  Chemicals are only planned to be used on a last resort basis.
 
It will be a holistic approach to addressing ticks at the site and has been presented as a draft to the Friends of the Pittsfield Dog Park.
 
A dog park facility has been in the city's long-range plan since 2003.  The Parks Commission and an ad hoc committee endorsed a site at Springside Park for the proposal in 2006 but community pushback derailed that effort a year later.
 
In 2016, Mayor Linda Tyer established the ad hoc committee to find a new location for the dog park. Multiple locations were evaluated and, in 2017, there was a recommendation made for Burbank Park.
 
The Parks Commission then endorsed that recommendation.
 
The total project budget was around $220,600. The city received a $25,000 design grant from the Stanton Foundation, which supports canine welfare as part of its mission, and worked with Berkshire Design Group to create the blueprint for the park.
 
The foundation gave the city a nearly $162,000 construction grant that required a $17,000 match. Pittsfield also received $70,000 in capital funds, which included the $17,000 match.
 
The city has to purchase accessories for the park including the water fountains, waste bags, waste dispensers, and benches.
 
Construction was wrapped up by the beginning of June but there was a delay in acquiring the fencing because of supply chain issues.
 
The fences were ready to go in mid-August but the hydroseed that was planted for greenery had to sit for the grass to grow in.
 
On Monday, the city had an informal official opening for the park. Because of recent upward trends in COVID-19 cases, it was decided not to hold a formal ribbon-cutting and ceremony.
 
As part of the memorandum of understanding with the Stanton Foundation, a Friends of the Pittsfield Dog Park group had to be developed to take care of the park.
 
In March, they began looking for members and Manship was happy to report that they have been very helpful with the process.
 
The group is intended to be the "eyes and ears" of the park while helping out with light maintenance that, in turn, helps the Parks Department maintenance crew.
 
"We're so thankful for the friends group," she said. "There were several of them first thing right off the bat Monday morning, they're great, and they're committed to helping keep everybody safe and happy."
 
Manship said there has been a steady flow of traffic to the park in its first week.

She encourages the public to take a short survey after visiting to give the city feedback on this new facility.

In addition, the city welcomes additional Friends of the Pittsfield Dog Park volunteers.  More information can be found here.


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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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