PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A site visit to the south side of Pontoosuc Lake Park on Tuesday turned combative at times as attendees passionately voiced their discontent on renovation work they say limits access to the water.

 

The city planted 1,088 shrubs along the shoreline — service berry, buttonbush, silky dogwood, and nine other species. Some of the two dozen people who attended the site visit complained that the plantings are obstacles to using the shore for swimming, boating and fishing. 

 

"We gotta remember this lake is used by everybody that belongs to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," said Daniel Miraglia. "The biggest area we've had for the public to use. We're taking that away. We're losing our land for open space at an incredible rate."

 

The plantings are part of the redesign and revitalization of the park, a project that was years in planning and is now about 90 percent complete. 

 

The site visit occurred before Tuesday's Parks Commission meeting, and although there were fewer attendees at the meeting, the same concerns were voiced. And the commissioners listened. 

 

They voted to recommend to the Conservation Commission that it consider modifying the current vegetation plan to create additional public access points to the water.

 

The project consisted of 2,268 pieces of vegetation, including river birch, ferns, herbaceous perennials, and the shrubs. 

 

The extensive plantings were an attempt to correct the severe erosion issues along the bank, said James McGrath, parks, open space, and natural resource program manager. 

 

The shrubs typically grow about 6 feet tall, which commissioners agreed would restrict easy access to the water. 

 

Miraglia highlighted how a survey from 2021 showed that 81 percent of respondents said they wanted to use the lakes for walking the shoreline, fishing, kayaking, boating, and other recreation. 

 

He thought there should be a pathway similar to how the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail runs along Cheshire Reservoir, with openings to access the water. 

 

Residents shared fond memories of using the lake, including cookouts, swimming, and boating. But they complained that the lack of maintenance had turned the once vibrant area into wetlands. 

 

“I go down there to see what was happening about a month and a half ago, I honestly shed a tear walking down those stairs to see this, I'm sorry, stupid boardwalk that in five to six years, is going to be full of splinters, and you're going to have to replace the pressure treated,” one resident said, referring to the boardwalk recently installed along the shore. 

 

McGrath explained that Phase 1 on the project focused around increasing accessibility of the park. 

 

"We've connected the upper parking lot on Hancock Road with the lower parking lot via a handicap accessible pathway. All new picnic tables have been sited throughout the park. There is new benches, park benches that have been sited throughout the park," he said. "There's new handicap parking spaces near the restroom, and a new 10-foot wide promenade walkway along the shoreline, which transitions onto a wooden boardwalk and terminates at the edge of the water. "

 

Pontoosuc Lake Park was acquired by the city in 1913 and had not received substantial improvements since the 1960s. Historic pictures of the park show beach facilities, ferry boats, and large slides.

 

Today, it is often used by boaters and fishermen, who use the shore to gain access to the water. However, the shrubs and recent renovations restrict this type of activity. 

 

In 2018, the city initially planned on restoring the historic beach; However, this idea shifted when it was discovered the area was a wetland. 

 

The Conservation Commission made it clear that converting the wetland back to a beach was not an option.

 

Residents questioned why since it had been a beach in the past. 

 

“I don't buy that the Conservation Commission or whatever could not find a way to put a beach where there was always a beach," said one resident. "That's my biggest break. It seems water under the bridge at this point, but it is astounding to me."

 

McGrath explained that filling in the wetlands is not a practice that the Conservation Commission would approve.

 

“You can fill wetlands, but then there is a whole replacement that is required so wetlands can be filled. Wetlands can be modified, but it often results in the creation of other wetlands to compensate for the loss," he said. "So, it wasn't our desire to go down that route, so we pursued the project that we have in front of us."

 

The project has had five public hearings leading up to this point.