Pittsfield Ice Rink Closed for Season
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield's new ice rink had a short season because of unpredictable weather, and the city is soliciting memories about the Wahconah Park grandstand before it is demolished.
Snow cancelled a ribbon-cutting on the facility in late February.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the ice rink in front of the ballpark will be closed for the rest of the season because of the temperature change and operational requirements. Temperatures rose above 40 degrees over the weekend, and the region on Tuesday hit a sunny, record high of about 70 degrees.
The rink opened in early February and hosted several free skaters and several Berkshire Bruins hockey events throughout the month. It had closed until further notice on March 4 as the city worked to fix imperfections on the ice.
At the Feb. 17 Parks Commission meeting, Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath reported seeing regular use of the rink when he passes by on his way home.
Late last year, it was announced that the 50-by-100-foot refrigerated ice rink the city was purchasing with grant support would be located in front of the currently shuttered Wahconah Park. Clapp Park was eyed for the location, but would have required expensive electrical accommodations.
In September, the City Council accepted a total of $200,000 from five local organizations for the portable rink system, and in January, accepted $10,000 from the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation for programming opportunities.
On Wednesday, the Parks and Recreation Department asked community members to share their favorite photos, videos, and memories of Wahconah Park. City officials are planning an opportunity to appreciate the Wahconah Park grandstand's century of history in Pittsfield, as bids for demolition came back in early March.
Now on the table for the grandstand's replacement is a $15 million plan, half the cost of the original proposal.
“For generations, the grandstand at Wahconah Park has been the backdrop for so many memories — summer nights, big games, family traditions, and special moments shared by our community. As we prepare for changes at the park this spring, we want to celebrate all the memories it holds,” the department wrote on Facebook.
“Do you have photos, videos, or favorite memories from the park over the years? We’re collecting them as we plan a special event for the community to say farewell to the existing grandstand.”
At the last Parks Commission meeting, McGrath reported that they want to have a conversation around opening up the grandstand one last time for the community to come in, look around, and share memories.
"I think it would we'd be remiss if we just brought in the wrecking ball and people were like, 'Wait a minute, I didn't have a chance to have one last look out from my favorite spot in the grandstand,' So we're going to figure out how to do that, how to get that done safely, and just how to celebrate this with some folks,” he said.
In December, the commission accepted a negotiating rights agreement between the city and the longtime summer collegiate baseball team, the Pittsfield Suns. It solidifies that the two will work together when the historic ballpark is renovated.
The new design decouples the bathrooms and concessions into smaller buildings elevated about five feet to meet the 100-year floodplain. An accessible ramp and porch would lead to the structures, and the grandstand would have a slightly narrower footprint.
If begun this summer, construction would be complete in the spring 2027.
Tags: ice skating, Wahconah Park,
