ADAMS, Mass. — Pups have been enjoying the new dog park for months now but it finally got the red-ribbon treatment on Saturday morning.
Officials cut the ribbon the park with the help of the Northern Berkshire Events Committee, which organized the event, and with complimentary Pup Cups from Roxie's Barkery.
"As we all know, things in government move kind of slow," said Selectman Jay Mezycwor. "The Hoosac Valley Coal & Grain Park Project, as it was called, was developed over a number of years. ...
"The thought here was to transform a vacant former industrial and commercial site here at 1 Cook Street, which formerly housed the coal and grain elevator and feed store."
Mezycwor described the dog park as a "critical piece in the transformation of this property," which includes event and picnic space, accessible walkways and public parking along the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.
Plans for the park back in 2021 had included the renovation of the coal and grain building but that had to be put on the backburner until more funding becomes available. About $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds was used to remediate the site, remove underground tanks, tear down some outbuildings and landscape the park.
Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture of Hudson, N.Y., did the design and D.F. Lane Landscaping Inc of Lenox the construction, which was completed last fall.
"Most people recognize the historic grain elevator building, which dates back to 1855," said Mezycwor. "It's iconic character created strong community desire to save the building, and then decided to do some restoration and remediation of the area here that we see in the park on the grounds, it seemed like a perfect landmark that all can enjoy, both human and canine."
The off-leash area is fenced in with a gated entry system, cleanup bags and disposal, picnic tables, rocks and logs for interest, and a young maple that will eventually offer shade. There is no separation for large and small dogs.
The park has picnic tables and young shade trees, grassy areas and hardscape, and concrete forms and foundations leftover from the site's past that now take on the appearance of modern art.
There were more people than dogs at the park for the official opening on Saturday, but at about a half-dozen pooches ran around the new park and went home with Nylabones.
Selectwomen Ann Bartlett and Christine Hoyt and Selectman Joseph Nowak helped Mezycwor along with Police Sgt. Curtis Crane and K9 Adam. Also on hand were Town Clerk Haley Meczycwor and Kyomi Belanger of the Community Development Office.
Mezycwor thanked the Community Development Office for its efforts to bring the park to fruition and the Northern Berkshire Events Committee, a volunteer group, for sponsoring the event and providing several raffle prizes.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Two T's Thrifting Moved to Park Street
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
Owner Trisha Carlo said a persistent leak in her previous location forced her to close for 10 weeks.
ADAMS, Mass. — A local thrift store has settled into its new location on Park Street.
Two T's Thrifting was opened by Trisha Carlo in January. The name is a homage to her late partner, Tom Bradley, who died in 2022. She said they both loved thrifting together.
Carlo had opened at 64 Summer St. but in April had to close down for about 10 weeks because of a leak in the ceiling. Once the leak was thought to be fixed, she reopened only to have it happen again.
"I decided to vacate that area or location, and kind of put everything on hold for a little bit. I had moved everything out once it had started leaking, just because I didn't want anything to get moldy or ruined," she said. "And I was kind of a little discouraged when that happened, you know, because rent is so high in most places, and I was pretty established over there. I had repeat customers coming in. It was going really well. So then I didn't know what to do."
Then one day she was enjoying breakfast at the Daily Grind when the owner, Becky Duprat, said she should talk to Lea King, who had owned the Adams Boba Tea and Gift Shop but had decided to retire earlier this year.
"Leah is pro Adams, pro bringing businesses to the area, and she just wants everybody to do well with whatever they want to do business wise," Carlo said. "I did take over some of her inventory for her Adams merchandise. I figured I would keep that here for tourists or for the locals."
She was able reopen her shop in its new location in July.
"It's been fun, setting back up and getting to know a different crowd that's walking by," she said. "The foot traffic is a little better. Obviously, there's more traffic that passes by, but advertising is still a little bit of a challenge. But repeat customers have found us. I have people that come in on a Saturday that visit me every week."
Carlo has also been trying to support the community, including letting local students get community service hours at her store, giving donations to Remedy Hall in Williamstown and other places across the county, holding a school supply drive for local families, and is currently doing a 50/50 raffle for Brewsters, a thrift shop in North Adams that was wrecked by a pickup truck last month.
She is still an emergency medical technician in Pittsfield and coaches soccer and basketball for Hoosac Valley High School.
She does take donations for the store but only during business hours. You can contact her through the business Facebook page on what you would like to donate to see if she can take it or walk in. She is accepting taking winter clothing.
Her new space at 57 Park St. is open Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. She hopes to extend these hours in the future.
Two T's Thrifting was opened by Trisha Carlo in January. The name is a homage to her late partner, Tom Bradley, who died in 2022. She said they both loved thrifting together.
click for more
Hoosac Valley High School has postponed this weekend’s football games following a reported alleged hazing incident involving a large number of football players, the athletic director announced Friday afternoon. click for more
Dozens of fire trucks escorted by marching firefighters made their way around downtown Adams on Saturday to the sounds of drums, fifes and the skirl of the bagpipes. click for more
Adams Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo recently announced that the town missed out on a $4 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields and Land Revitalization grant. click for more
BRPC was awarded an additional $64,700 that will allow them to gather information about transportation needs in northern Berkshire County. click for more