Neal Touts $3M Wahconah Park Earmark
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A $3 million federal earmark will bolster the revitalization of Wahconah Park and shows the government's recognition of its significance.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal on Friday officially announced the historic baseball site's allocation to local and state officials at City Hall.
"I think for those of us who are sporting fans and former participants, the word 'iconic' is overused in America," he said. "But guess what? When it comes to Wahconah Park, it’s the appropriate designation. Iconic."
The $3 million is part of a $1.7 billion omnibus spending bill that passed late last year through Congressionally Direct Spending from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is one of 15 regional projects totaling more than $20.3 million that Neal secured for the commonwealth.
Last year, the city embarked on a $10 million to $15 million overhaul of the park after the 70-year-old grandstand was deemed structurally unsound and was closed for seating.
"Pittsfield is a baseball city and it has been since 1791 when the first recorded mention of the game was found in a town bylaw," Mayor Linda Tyer said.
"And on Aug. 9, 1892, Wahconah Park welcomed its first group of fans. 1892. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and it remains one of the last wooden grandstands — that was constructed in 1950 though — but it is one of the last wooden grandstands in the country and it has a classic design which is intimate and offers fans with baseball an experience that reflects a bygone era."
The congressman reflected on his own history with sports in the area and recognized how they bring the community together.
?"The Berkshires always had great sporting teams and I think part of it was because of proximity," he said.
"It’s a small geographic part of the state which means that the sporting events really brought people together and the repetitional value of those sporting events I think is significant."
Neal remembers marching in the Pittsfield 4th of July Parade and hearing about Wahconah Park’s sun delay, which is a time when the sun becomes too bright for play and everyone takes a break.
"It’s part of New England lore," he said.
He added that the this is smallest geographical part of the country yet has a lot of political power, referencing President Joseph Biden’s recent labeling of the Massachusetts congressional delegation as the most powerful in the United States.
With that power, officials make sure that these kinds of initiatives are funded, Neal said.
"This is really a great day," he said.
A restoration committee was formed last year to inform the process of either renovating or rebuilding the facility, which is not yet decided upon.
"When we had to make the decision to close the grandstand it was a really difficult decision but we became aware of safety hazards that exist in there," Tyer said.
"And so the team here in the city of Pittsfield, working with the Pittsfield Suns," we were able to still have a Sun’s season. We had to make some accommodations but we were still able to play baseball there but right away I brought together a group of community volunteers who all have a variety of experiences to help us plan for the future of this historic ballpark and the Wahconah Park Restoration Committee, whose many members are here today, they need to work diligently and they have been soliciting input from the community and working with the design team to create this new vision."
The owner's project manager Skanska USA anticipates the design being complete by February or March of next year and bidding and work by August 2024 after the Pittsfield Sun's season. This would result in a new ballpark that is open for use by the summer of 2025.
On Thursday night, two possible designs were displayed to the panel and the public: a renovated option and an elevated option with an upper level. Addressing the site’s flooding is also a consideration along with the proposal of either natural grass or artificial turf.
"We want to make sure we do it right," Chair Earl Persip III said. "We have thought about kind of every problem that could happen so we can address it with a proper response."
He pointed to the preliminary renderings provided by the project designer S3 Design and said that the committee really has a vision now.
"This is just the beginning so the committee is dedicated and we want to make sure that this is an opportunity for the residents of Pittsfield to enjoy as long as we're around, as long as our kids are around, and we will deliver a suggestion that completes that,"
"We will make sure the history of the park is honored, the people that have played there, the events that happened there, that's important to us. We will make sure that happens. That is one of the priorities is recognizing the great things that have happened at Wahconah Park,"
"We feel this is an important project. I encourage the residents of Pittsfield to give us your input. We want to hear your voice. This is a project that I think 99.9% of Pittsfield can agree should move forward and have memories of Wahconah Park so we are not done with this process. This is not the final version. We want your input. We will have one more community meeting. We ask you to come. If you can't make it, email the Parks Department or myself. Please, we want your input because this is important to everybody."
Throughout her eight years in office, Tyer said she has been proud of the partnership that her team has built at the state and federal level and that the network has provided the city with tremendous opportunities to propel its future forward.
She said this allocation is no exception.
Pittsfield was selected to host the New England Regional Babe Ruth tournament for ages 13 to 15, which began on Friday at Wahconah Park.
"We are honored to be able to host the tournament at this historic venue and excited to see that Wahconah Park is going to be brought back to its former glory and I think that’s just a great thing," President David Wildgoose said.
"It’s got a rich history and tradition of baseball and, as been mentioned, Pittsfield is a baseball town, the Berkshires is a baseball community and it’s ingrained in us and it’s great to see."
Pittsfield Babe Ruth League is one of the 10 oldest Babe Ruth organizations in the nation and has been in the city for over 70 years.
Last year, the league’s 13-year-old team made it to the final game of the Babe Ruth World Series. The league has had numerous state championship teams, winning 10 consecutive state championships in the 13 to 15-year-old division, which Wildgoose said is a testament to the baseball community in Pittsfield.
Following the announcement, Neal visited the park as baseball players and families were circulating for the tournament.
