image description
The city broke ground this week on the new pickleball court near the Doyle Softball Complex. The six courts are expected to be ready for play this fall.

Pickleball Coming to Springside Park in the Fall

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new pickleball facility is coming this fall.

Located in the northeast corner of Springside Park near the Doyle Softball Complex on Benedict Road, it will feature six courts and a small parking lot.

A groundbreaking scheduled for Monday was cancelled due to inclement weather but there are plans to unveil the finished project with a ribbon cutting in the fall.

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong and is suitable for singles and doubles. It has recently grown in popularity with the Sports and Fitness Industry Association estimating 4.8 million current players, which is almost double the number of players five years ago.

Last year, a Springside pickle ball proposal rose from the grave after it the City Council scrapped its funding in 2019.

This time, it is supported by $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act monies and is positioned farther away from residential homes on Bossidy Drive.

A site selection committee was appointed last summer and, starting with nearly 50 possible locations, chose the park out of six.


It began by considering all parks, conservation properties, and school grounds.  

Schools and conservation areas were almost immediately disqualified and six possible sites remained: Lebanon Park on Lebanon Avenue, Springside Park on Benedict Road, Lakewood Park on Newell Street, Burbank Park on Valentine Road, Marchisio Park on Dalton Division Road, and the East Street Softball Complex.

Members considered the surrounding neighborhood, co-location compatibility, availability of parking, and environmental aspects of the location.  

The Parks Commission voted in favor of the location in November after being presented with a pickleball site study report.

In March, the commission OKed a scaled-down design to fit the $500,000 budget.  Construction is estimated to take eight to ten weeks.

Users will be welcomed by a plaza area that has a bike rack, a trash can, and possibly a bulletin board kiosk. It will be fully accessible from the 23-space parking lot with three handicapped-accessible spots.

Four pickleball courts comfortably fit within one tennis court, making the proposed playing area about the size of two tennis courts.


Tags: pickleball,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories