image description — On Tuesday, the Parks Commission was presented with a 2026 Parks and Recreation plan for programming, community engagement, and marketing.

Pittsfield Creates a Parks & Rec. Marketing Plan

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:21AM / Sunday, January 25, 2026Print Story | Email Story

Simon Muil was elected chair of the Parks Commission during the meeting

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— An "abbreviated roadmap" for the future of Pittsfield parks stresses the importance of community engagement and programming that well serves residents.

On Tuesday, the Parks Commission was presented with a 2026 Parks and Recreation plan for programming, community engagement, and marketing. It was created by Jennifer VanBramer, Pittsfield's recreation and special events coordinator.

"It really is sort of an abbreviated roadmap for how we intend to really enhance and bolster what we do," Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath said.

He explained that when VanBramer stepped into the role, she saw the need for a plan on how the parks operate in the future and seasonally. It then became her charge.

"Our overall goal is to strengthen the Park and Recreation Department outreach and visibility by growing our connection with the community, enhancing our brand presence, and promoting both the programs and events we do, as well as partner-supported events," she said.

"We work with a lot of different organizations who volunteer at our events, and we want to support what they're doing as well."

The 2026 marketing plan is divided into five initiatives: Community engagement at events, seasonal newsletters, promotion of partner programs, branding and staff visibility, and social media presence.

VanBramer said that one way to increase Pittsfield's presence and build relationships is to table at community events. This would allow the city to promote upcoming programs and summer job opportunities such as lifeguards, which have been difficult hire in previous years, and playground program staff.

The recreation and special events coordinator also wants to bring back seasonal email newsletters, starting with a winter 2026 edition.

"We want to continue to actively promote those recreational programs or events that our community partners have in our city parks or are aligned with our mission to help show that we're committed to supporting those groups that make our city parks more active, welcoming, and fun for everyone," she explained.

"Because there might be people out there who might not know that these activities are happening."

The plan suggests investing in T-shirts, sweatshirts, or jackets that identify City of Pittsfield staff at events so they can be available for information or assistance. It also calls for an increased media presence.

The department is primarily on Facebook, with more than 7,000 followers, and would like to increase its following on Instagram. This entails more video reels to add variety to posts and increase followers, using themes like "A Day in the Parks," event recaps, behind-the-scenes parks footage, and highlighting national holidays related to parks and recreation.

In 2026 and beyond, programmatic expansions will be focused on arts and community engagement. A family-friendly chalk art festival is planned at The Common in September, as well as pop-up activities at various city parks when school is not in session.

VanBramer reported that the park's programming may not materialize in this current year, but in the future will help fill the need for supervised activities when kids are not in school.

McGrath clarified that the city's beloved parades, summer playground program, seasonal egg hunt, and holiday events are also a part of the plan and are not going anywhere.

"We're really looking forward to sort of showing you over the coming months and years how we're going to get this done. We have a very proud legacy of providing great spaces and fun things happening in these spaces. Not only stuff we do, but our partners," he said.

"So we've got to highlight our partners, support our partners, and look to do some new stuff in this sort of changing city that we have, and just continue a legacy of the best park and recreation system in Western Mass."

In other news, Simon Muil was elected chair of the Parks Commission during the meeting.

Tags: parks commission,

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Fenton: Governor's Council Must Deliver for the Berkshires

Community submissionGuest Column
10:22AM / Friday, August 28, 2026

I am a Springfield lawyer running for Governor's Council and I am asking for Berkshire County residents to support me over an incumbent from North Adams.

Here's why: Last year I learned about staffing issues in our regional courts that I could not ignore. In 2025, it was reported that four of Western Massachusetts' 11 Superior Court judgeships were vacant, all at the same time. A few weeks later, that grew to five vacancies. This meant there were only six Superior Court judges serving all of Western Mass at a time when Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties had more than 100 pending homicide cases.

Those numbers were alarming to me, so I started to engage with leaders in the community who work most closely with the court system and I came to learn that these vacancies were only the tip of the iceberg here in Berkshire County.

I learned that no Superior Court or District Court judge had been appointed from the Berkshires since the current incumbent took office. As a result, there is not a single Superior Court judge who lives in the Berkshires today, and several of the District Court judges drive in from other counties to support Berkshire courts in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, and North Adams. Court staff also informed me about severe staffing shortages at the Berkshire Clerk of Courts office resulting in other counties needing to loan staff to the Berkshires just so hardworking employees can take a brief and planned summer vacation. This is not normal. These issues are a reflection of genuine problems with the Berkshire County court system and show a lack of proactive attention from our Governor's Councilor.

Instead of focusing on regional equity, I watched as the current incumbent celebrated that she has voted against the governor's nominees more than any other councilor, without much explanation as to why. Most recently, she voted against two extremely qualified former prosecutors for the Parole Board. This was despite an in-person plea from the governor and a letter of support from all the three of the district attorney's from Western Mass. Those votes do not show independence or standing up for principles, they demonstrate naivete, and an unwillingness to work with the key stakeholders.

I had seen and heard enough. I decided to jump in the race and challenge the incumbent to address these problems head-on.

I am a partner of a regional law firm. I understand our courts and the importance of having qualified, fair and hardworking judges. And I know how important it is to have judges from the Berkshires serving the Berkshires. To achieve that, you need strong relationships with the legal community and local stakeholders. You need to know how to use the power of the Governor's Council to fight forcefully for our region. And you need to be laser focused on identifying vacancies before they occur so that they can be filled quickly with local candidates.

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