image description
The Taconic High School track will be closed starting Monday for reconstruction.

Taconic Track Closing For Repairs, Spring Completion Set

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Work will soon begin on Taconic High School's track that has been cited as an "accident waiting to happen."

On Thursday, the city announced that the track will be closed to all users starting Monday. It is slated to reopen in late spring with a new surface and other elements for a better user experience.

It is a popular spot for walkers and runners of all ages but is not the only rubberized track in the city, as there is another one at the Belanger Youth Athletic Facility at the corner of Newell and East Streets.

The project will cost about $1.625 million and is funded through local and federal monies. This includes $1.38 million in city capital funds and $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Mountain View Construction of Chicopee was awarded the contract. The city worked with the company in 2020 for improvements to Clapp Park and the installation of a splash pad.

Most notable, there will be a new six-lane track with an eight-lane straightaway that will be completely rebuilt from the base up. The facility will also see improved drainage, new fencing, a new layout for an improved flow of field events, new goalposts for football, a new handicapped parking spot, and an overall improved layout for a better fan experience.

The Conservation Commission signed off on the project last year.

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Program Manager James McGrath reported that disruptions in the track season are being handled by the school's athletic director. There will be a plan for away meets and alternate practice spaces.


Drainage problems on the rubberized quarter-mile running track were emphasized during the fiscal year 2024 budget hearings, with community members in favor of the renovation filling council chambers on the day that capital funds were discussed.

Student Kailynne Errichetto said the school has been unable to host track meets because of the conditions of the facility and drainage issues, calling some aspects an "accident waiting to happen."

She said some of the cancellations could have been avoided if the drainage system had worked, explaining that the track was soaked and the infield was a "disgusting muddy mess."

"The community and the Taconic and PHS athletes would really benefit from this proposed capital infusion towards the renovation of the track because we want good training," Errichetto added.

"The track is home to so many different people and events."

She said people of all ages utilize the track and it is time for an upgrade.

Longtime Pittsfield educator and athletic coach Joseph Albano described the history of the track, which was built in the late 1960s, and the high schools' struggles with insufficient facilities.

"It's been 30 years of pleading and begging to redo the track at Taconic High School," he said.


Tags: track & field,   

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

Friday Front Porch Feature: This Luxury Home Has Plenty of Amenities

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LENOX, Mass. — Are you looking for a big house to enjoy your days with a big movie theater, a sauna, and more? Then this is the house for you.

Built in 2004, this seven-bedroom, and nine-bathroom home is 7,073 square feet on more than an acre. The home comes with an elevator to the lower level to access a theater, sauna, gym, wine cellar, massage room, and its very own soda fountain. 

The home also has a guest house with a saltwater pool. A multi-car garage greets you with heated floors.

The this home is listed for $4,950,000 and is located in the 125-acre, gated Pinecroft compound.

We spoke to Leslie Chesloff, the listing agent with William Pitt Sotheby's.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Chesloff: This gated Berkshire stone estate truly redefines luxury living in the Berkshires. What sets it apart is the rare combination of resort-style amenities and complete privacy. The property offers Canyon Ranch-level wellness living with a full spa experience at home — including a sauna, massage room, and gym — plus an eight-seat hi-def theater with wine cellar for entertaining. The heated, gunite saltwater pool and spa are complemented by a fully equipped pool house with a guest suite and complete kitchen, perfect for extended family or guests.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

The moment you step inside, you're struck by the quality and craftsmanship — those 300-year-old reclaimed timber floors set an immediate tone of authenticity and warmth. The scale is impressive but never overwhelming; this is a home designed for gracious living, not just show. The natural light, cathedral ceilings, and thoughtful flow between spaces create an inviting atmosphere that balances grandeur with genuine comfort.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?

This home feels like a private wellness retreat meets sophisticated family estate. There's a serene, spa-like quality throughout — enhanced by features like the sauna, steam shower, and massage room — but it never feels clinical or cold. The Berkshire stone exterior and reclaimed timber floors ground the home in a sense of place and permanence. It's designed for people who appreciate the finer things but want to actually live well — whether that's screening a film in the eight-seat theater with wine from your own cellar, hosting poolside gatherings, or simply unwinding in your own spa sanctuary.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

This is perfect for the discerning buyer who values wellness, privacy, and culture in equal measure. I envision someone who spends their days hiking or exploring the Berkshires, then comes home to unwind in the sauna or pool. They might entertain guests in the theater wine room, host multi-generational gatherings with family staying in the pool house guest suite (which has a full kitchen), and appreciate being minutes from Tanglewood, world-class dining, and Berkshire arts.

This could be an executive looking for a primary residence with work-from-home flexibility (there's an office/bedroom suite), a wellness-focused family, or empty nesters who want to host adult children and grandchildren in style and comfort.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Picture Saturday morning: you're sipping coffee on the terrace overlooking your heated saltwater pool, planning a day at Tanglewood. Your guests are making breakfast in the pool house kitchen — they have their own private retreat but are steps away when you're ready to gather. Evening arrives, and you screen a favorite film in your eight-seat theater, selecting a perfect bottle from your wine cellar. This isn't just a home; it's a lifestyle that brings resort-level wellness, entertainment, and hospitality to your doorstep — all within a secure, maintenance-free compound where nature meets luxury.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?

Absolutely. The home includes an elevator for multilevel accessibility, which is both practical and forward-thinking. The lower level is exceptionally well-conceived — a true entertainment and wellness wing featuring the eight-seat hi-def theater, wine cellar, sauna, gym, massage room, and even a charming soda fountain. The gourmet kitchen has been recently updated, customized wet bar, while outdoor living is elevated with the heated gunite saltwater pool/spa, firepit, and that incredible pool house with guest suite and full kitchen. Also, new HVAC system and heated driveway.

Thoughtful details like cedar closets, steam showers, central vacuum, and backup generator show this home was built to the highest standards.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories