Pittsfield Summer Playground Program

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development Recreation Program announces the return of the Summer Playground Program for 2024.
 
The Summer Playground Program, a free, six-week-long program held at Clapp Park, Durant Park and the Common, offers a wide range of recreation activities to Pittsfield children between the ages of 6 to 13. This program runs from July 8 to August 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday at each designated location at no cost.
 
If there is inclement weather, the program will move from each park to the Berkshire Family YMCA. Details of these changes will be shared on the Pittsfield Parks and Recreation social media pages.
 
Playground leaders will create safe, supervised and fun-filled outdoor activities including sports, games, arts and crafts and nature activities. In addition, several new activities are planned for this summer's program including:
  • The Berkshire Museum Mobile Unit will visit each park once a week.
  • The Berkshire Athenaeum will be providing books for the children and adventure backpacks (while supplies last).
  • Pittsfield Public Schools will be providing FREE lunches daily.
  • Massachusetts Safe Routes to School will be leading a safety demo the first week of the program.
  • Hosting several Soap Box Derby "build days" in partnership with Blue Q, Interprint, Westside Legends and Berkshire Art Center.
  • 2 field trips will be provided by the Pittsfield Public Schools transportation department with visits to Onota Lake and pickleball courts at Springside Park
For more information, contact Maddy Brown, Recreation and Special Events Coordinator, at mbrown@cityofpittsfield.org or (413) 499-9371.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Housing Secretary Visits Pittsfield's 'The First'

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Just five months after opening, The First has already become a community hub for individuals in need of resources or a place to decompress. 
 
The space is filled with donated items from a room full of clothing, lockers, a classroom, couches, a television, a ping-pong table, and more.  
 
Located at 74 First St., the resource center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
 
"[Visitors] come up to us daily and admit that this is a beautiful space, and we want to keep it in the community as a whole… It's a wonderful place for them to feel as part of the community," The First Program Director, John Jablonski, said. 
 
The First was one of the stops on Housing Secretary Juana Matias' tour of supportive housing initiatives in Pittsfield.  In February, she was appointed to lead the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. 
 
 
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