Pittsfield Announces 2026 Summer Playground Program

10:40AM / Monday, June 29, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development Recreation Program announces the return of the Summer Playground Program for 2026.

The Summer Playground Program is a free, six-week-long, program held at Clapp Park, Durant Park and The Common that offers a wide range of recreation activities to Pittsfield children between the ages of 6 to 13.

This year's program will run from July 6 to August 14 with new hours from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at each designated location. There is no cost to participate in the program.

If there is inclement weather, the program will move from each park to the Berkshire Family YMCA Pittsfield Branch located at 292 North Street. Details of these changes will be shared on the Pittsfield Parks and Recreation Facebook and Instagram pages.

During the program, Playground Leaders will supervise safe and enjoyable outdoor activities at each site including sports, games, arts and crafts and nature activities. In addition, the program is partnering with various organizations to offer the following:

Community health workers from Volunteers in Medicine will be present at each park during the first and second week of the program to assist families with registration and provide interpretation services in Spanish.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (MassDOT) Safe Routes to School program will be visiting the three parks throughout the summer to offer bike safety demos, bike traffic garden events, and a bike rodeo.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will be visiting each park to offer an EnviroScape demonstration activity during the second week of the program.
The Berkshire Athenaeum will be offering summer reading related activities at each park during the program.
Pittsfield Public Schools (PPS) will be providing and serving free lunches daily at each park. Snacks will also be provided by PPS for program participants.

No pre-registration is necessary, but parents or guardians must fill out a registration form on their child's first day of attendance with a Playground Leader on-site.

For more information, contact Jennifer VanBramer, Recreation and Special Events Coordinator, at jvanbramer@pittsfieldma.gov or (413) 499-9371.

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Pittsfield Committee Recommends Scanlon for City Audit

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires.com
11:59AM / Sunday, August 02, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— After the bid for a new auditing company came back more than 30 percent higher, Pittsfield will stick with Scanlon and Associates.

On Tuesday, the Auditing Services Evaluation Committee voted, 4-2, to advance Scanlon to the City Council for an independent audit. CliftonLarsonAllen also responded to the bid, but came in costing $120,000 more.

“I have to go with saving money for the city. I mean, the discrepancy is too much of a difference,” committee member Karen Kalinowsky said.

“The city could have used for that difference over the next three years.”

This process was prompted by Rule 40 of the council rules and the City Charter, where in any year the City Council votes to hold a procurement process for an independent certified public accountant or firm to audit Pittsfield's books and accounts, the city must, through its Finance Committee with the assistance of the purchasing department, solicit requests for proposals or invitations for bids before June 1.

The council in March recommended that the purchasing agent draft a request for proposals and put it out to bid.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, who has vocally supported the independent audit for years, said the city doesn’t have to follow a bidding process for the professional service, “We are doing this so the public knows that we're being professional and are looking for other options, looking at what the best options are, and comparing them based on what they can offer and what the cost is.”

Board member Kathy Amuso said both CLA and Scanlon have comparable reviews with high recommendations. Especially considering the budget crisis Pittsfield is in, she moved to recommend Scanlon to the full council.

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