Special Meeting Called for Wahconah Park Designer Recommendation

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A special Parks Commission meeting will be held Wednesday to vote on recommended designer services for the redo of Wahconah Park.

The commissioners will meet virtually at 6 p.m. to decide whether to recommend to contract with S3 Design Inc. of Braintree for the restoration or rebuild of Pittsfield's historic baseball park. The city's purchasing agent will ask for a scope and price proposal if the vote is positive.

Last week, the park's restoration committee recommended the firm after a selection subcommittee heard from two others. Four proposals were received in response to an request for proposals and three including S3 were accepted for interviews: Bargmann Hendrie and Archetype Inc. and Clough, Harbour & Associates.

S3 proposed a workshop-based process to assist the owner's project manager Skanska USA, the committee, and the city with the project. It includes a feasibility study with four phases of workshops, a schematic design, bidding and the award, and the construction administration.

In a cover letter, the firm wrote that it specializes in planning and design for athletics and recreation projects, a skill that is rooted in a passion for sports and the ability to create designs that foster community bonds.

The consultant team includes its architectural team, EDM, engineering team, SLR Consulting for specific site issues, and Sports Facilities Companies for financial forecasting and advisory planning.

Committee members have identified several needs for the project, such as addressing the parking lot's flooding issues and bringing in the opportunity for additional revenue streams at the park.

Efforts to revive Wahconah Park officially began over the summer with the establishment of the advisory committee in June. In April it was announced that grandstand seating would not be available this year because the steel structure was compromised. 

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.