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." 

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.