Free Tree Identification Walk at The Clark in Williamstown

11:59AM / Wednesday, June 25, 2025Print Story | Email Story

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) will host a free tree identification walk at The Clark Art Institute's grounds and walking trails in Williamstown on Saturday, June 28, at 9:30 AM. (Rain Date: Sunday, June 29)

This walk will last approximately two hours and will feature slow-paced stops along the way. Participants will be outdoors for the entire duration of the walk, so appropriate footwear, clothing, and drinking water are recommended.

On this guided walk, participants will learn key characteristics of trees commonly found in Western Massachusetts. Led by a Berkshire naturalist and tree enthusiast, the walk will offer tips and tricks for recognizing tree species throughout the year, regardless of the presence of leaves. In addition to learning how to identify trees, participants will have the opportunity to view some of the artwork integrated into the natural landscape of The Clark.

This event is free and open to the public; however, space is limited, and registration is required. For more information or to register, email chelsey@thebeatnews.org.

This tree walk is part of a grant awarded by the Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts to Berkshire Environmental Action Team. BEAT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Pittsfield, MA. They work with the community to protect the environment for wildlife in support of the natural world that sustains us all. To learn more about BEAT, visit their website at www.thebeatnews.org or contact them at team@thebeatnews.org, (413) 464-9402.

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Williamstown Studying Major Overhaul for Main Street

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:14AM / Wednesday, July 29, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The town is working with a Worcester civil engineering firm to redesign Main Street with an eye toward a major project sometime in the next decade.

Community Development Director Andrew Groff was before the Select Board on Monday night to talk about Town Hall's use of a $500,000 state grant to do preliminary design on major improvements to that portion of Route 2 that runs from Water Street west to the Field Park rotary, through the middle of Williams College's campus.

Groff introduced the elected officials to Amanda Bazinet of Worcester's Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, who is helping the town to develop a plan for Main Street that would align with the commonwealth's Complete Streets Program.

"Our project goals, in addition to the increased pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, is just, in general, improving the sightlines and improving the intersection geometry," Bazinet said.

"Complete Streets … has a lot of different facets to it. As Andrew had mentioned, the goal is to improve the safety for all of the roadway users — not just the motorists. We're looking at improving it for pedestrians, bicyclists, anyone using a mobility device. We want to create streets that are safe for all ages and abilities to use. So, while bicyclists will still be allowed, legally, to use the roadway, we want to look at providing a separate bicycle accommodation along the corridor, whether it's a shared use path along both sides of the streets that is a little more accessible to young children or older people with disabilities to look at all transportation options."

One goal is to encourage "active transportation." The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, who the town hopes one day might fund the construction, has a "healthy transportation policy," Bazinet said.

That MassDOT funding would come through the Transportation Improvement Program, which is managed locally by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. The design work underway now is being done with an eye toward going after TIP funding years down the road.

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