Pittsfield Council Accepts $200K for Outdoor Ice Rink

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Public, outdoor ice skating will return to the city this winter. 

On Tuesday, the City Council accepted a total of $200,000 from five local organizations for a portable ice rink system at Clapp Park. The $250,000 project reimagines ice skating memories at The Common in the age of global warming. 

Officials hope to have it operational by the holiday season. 

"The whole idea behind the project is that climate change has really made it very difficult for us to establish and maintain an ice sheet in the traditional way, like we've done for many, many years at The Common. Those days are over," Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath explained. 

"What we've landed on is this idea of a temporary ice rink that can be brought in, and it's powered by chillers. It's essentially a refrigerated system that will help maintain consistent ice throughout a number of months. It's a very expensive system. It's on the order of $200,000." 

Alex Regen, co-director of the effort, brought the idea to Mayor Peter Marchetti shortly after he was elected and agreed to seek outside funding for the 50-by-100-foot rink. 

• The Feigenbaum Foundation: $125,000, 
• The Jane and Jack Fitzpatrick Trust: $50,000
• Milltown Foundation: $10,000
• Berkshire Bank Foundation: $10,000
• Pittsfield Cooperative Bank: $5,000

In grant letters, donors praised the idea of a fun wintertime activity 

"We believe this initiative will bring meaningful community benefit by creating a welcoming, active space that promotes health, connection, and vibrancy during the winter months," Program Director Andy Wrba wrote on behalf of Mill Town Foundation. 

Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey praised McGrath and Regen's work, saying, "obviously, this is awesome," and an idea that is hard not to support. 

"I look forward to one skating and then hopefully expanding more winter projects at the park too. I mean, think about it, you can go sledding, you can go skating. We can do a winter carnival," he said. 

"A lot of ideas." 

Allendale Pines North Affordable Manufactured Homes Sell Fast

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:17PM / Saturday, August 22, 2026

Developer Teton Management cut the ribbon on the first six hopes in the manufactured housing community earlier this year. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Just a few months after Allendale Pines North cut the ribbon on its first six homes in the new manufactured home community, units in the planned development are selling fast with both first and second phases all but sold out.

 

For several years, Teton Management Corp. has been planning to expand its existing Allendale Pines Mobile Community with the development of 22 planned manufactured housing units. The new development has its own entrance at 395 Cheshire Road. 

 

The need for attainable housing has never been higher, Teton President George Whaling said. 

 

"And where we sought the opportunity to help with that demand is, we can get folks into a home at Allendale Pines North for essentially a couple of $100 less than what it would cost for someone to rent a three-bedroom of the same quality," he said. 

 

The corporation took over Allendale Pines, now referred to as Allendale Pines South, about 6 1/2 years ago, Whaling said. 

 

Since then, the corporation has invested $1,000,001 in infrastructure improvements, including replacing all water and sewer lines, paving the community and installing the infrastructure needed for 10 additional units, he said. 

 

Additionally, it has been working to clean up and improve the community, which was lacking during previous ownership, said Jason Nocher, owner of Nocher Realty, which has been hired to help sell the units.