PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association, with partners the City of Pittsfield, MassDevelopment's Transformative Development Initiative (TDI), Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), and the Pittsfield Community Design Center, are seeking public input and contributions on a relaunch to activate Dunham Mall with lighting, plantings, programming, and seating.

 

Reimagine Dunham Mall aims to support area business, recreation, pedestrian networks, and parking accessibility for residents and visitors of downtown Pittsfield. Pittsfield residents and stakeholders have identified beautification as a top priority for downtown.

 

The project has gone through an initial phase of public input: a community session held on Jan. 31, 2024; feedback collected online after an initial set of design concepts; and additional feedback collected in person on May 3, 2024, at First Fridays at Five.

 

Feedback to date has changed the project significantly; organizers have moved away from stylized design concepts. The new iteration of the project will include a phased approach. Installation of elements and style will depend on what the community deems essential to the project's success.

 

The public is invited to provide additional feedback and contribute to a community fundraiser on Patronicity (Patronicity.com/ImagineDunhamMall) to help determine the concepts that move forward to implementation. Every community dollar (up to $15,000) will be matched twice.

 

If the Reimagine Dunham Mall design team is able to raise $7,500 in public contributions, the team will be able to implement some basic improvements like café lighting, new trash receptacles, signage, and new tree planters. With $20,000 in public contributions, additional improvements can be implemented including ways to define the space, new edge plantings, more shrub and tree tubs with seating, and mobile planters or dividers for activities. With $35,000 in public contributions, the team will be able to purchase green benches and permanent picnic tables, public art, and more trees and shade.

 

In Nov. 2023, the Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association was awarded a $50,000 Commonwealth Places Grant: $35,000 to activate Dunham Mall and Burbank Place and $15,000 to enhance the Berkshire Lightscapes program. This award must be matched to access the funding. Pittsfield Beautiful has pledged to match each dollar crowdfunded on the Patronicity site up to $15,000. Berkshire Lightscapes will match $15,000 for Lightscapes internally. Administered by MassDevelopment, Commonwealth Places provides funding to support place-based, locally driven placemaking projects in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts throughout Massachusetts.