Pittsfield Lifeguard Update for 2025 Summer Season

04:00PM / Friday, July 04, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Be advised that lifeguards will not be present to monitor the water and related activities like swimming at Burbank Park (Onota Lake) this summer.

The city began a search for qualified lifeguards in April of 2025. After several months of unsuccessful attempts to fill the lifeguard positions, the city is unable to provide lifeguarding for the 2025 season.

Swimming in an unsupervised, natural body of water is inherently dangerous. Any person choosing to swim does so at their own risk.

Onota Lake is a natural body of water with risks that include, but are not limited to:

Sudden and unexpected changes in water depth
Cold water temperatures that can impair swimming ability
Underwater hazards such as rocks, logs, and vegetation
Unpredictable currents
The lake bottom is not inspected or maintained for safety

Children and weak swimmers should not use the swimming area without close adult supervision. No one should swim alone.

There are no emergency services stationed at this park. In an emergency, call 911.

Signage will be available in various areas located throughout Burbank Park notifying the public of this message.

We will continue to keep the job posting for lifeguards open and encourage qualified candidates with the proper certifications to apply. Interested applicants can find more information here: https://jobs.keldair.com/cityofpittsfield/jobs/89907/lifeguard

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

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

ServiceNet Hopes to Open Pittsfield Warming Center in Nov.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Thursday, October 15, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A warming center is again planned in the First United Methodist Church for the cold months.

During last week's Homelessness Advisory Committee meeting, Erin Forbush, director of shelter and housing at ServiceNet, reported that they hope to begin operating the nighttime center in mid-November.

It would operate from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the church, which abuts The Pearl shelter. Forbush said the warming center would be the same program as in the past.

"Again it's a warming center, so there's no cots or beds, but it is certainly a place to come in, and we'll have a hot coffee or cocoa ready for folks," she explained.

"It will be a place to be inside and warm."

This year, ServiceNet hopes to secure full funding from the state so the warming center can open on Sundays at 5 p.m. In years past, they found that Sunday is the most challenging day for unhoused individuals because many community spaces aren't open.

The First Housing Resource Center, managed by Hearthway, opened earlier this year as a low-barrier option for people to rest and access amenities. It is open seven days a week, and Forbush said if people could come to the warming center on Sundays at 5, there would be a fuller day of coverage.

"It does still leave a little gap for Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, as spaces like the library close at five, but we know that Sundays were something that people were looking for," she said.

View Full Story