Pittsfield Parks Commission OKs Summer, Fall Events
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Parks Commission on Tuesday night OK'd a number of summer and fall events on city recreation properties.
After a lightning strike started a fire in the steeple at Price Memorial AME Zion Church last month, the panel voted to allow the congregation to use the Westside Riverway Park for worship services on Sundays until Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Park, Open Space and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath explained that the church almost immediately reached out to the city asking to use the space and he worked with the chairman to get approvals in place.
"I think this is really appropriate for us," he said. "The park is in the neighborhood, this really meets a need and on a Sunday morning, the park is not used. We have the space and I think this is an act of generosity."
Berkshire Running Camp was approved for a run at Springside Park on Aug. 17 and from 8:15 to 11:15 a.m. The one-week camp operates out of Camp Taconic in Hinsdale and runs in different locations throughout the county.
A "Fiesta Latina Zumba Masterclass" was approved for The Common on Aug. 2 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Mill Town Foundation program manager Andrew Wrba said this is a free dance initiative through the foundation called the Wandering Dance Society.
"If we get 75 people that would be a great turnout for us," Wrba said.
The Berkshire Summer Waterfront Festival through Berkshire Active and Berkshire Community Rowing was approved for Burbank Park on Aug. 19 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. subject to an alcohol permit for Hot Plate Brewery and a walk-through with the Parks Department.
Representative Samuel Pascual said this is the second year of the festival and that the groups wanted to expand it beyond just rowing to also involve kayaking and swimming.
The vent will have food vendors, a donated beer garden, and demonstrations.
McGrath pointed out that there are specific requirements that the commission has for alcohol distribution including having a roped-off space, ServSafe certification, and a sign-off from the Police Department.
The annual David Zerbato Wiffle ball tournament to benefit the David Zerbato Memorial Scholarship Fund was approved for Deming Park on Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Zerbato was a longtime Little League coach who died suddenly in 2017.
In the past five years, 18 scholarships have been awarded totaling $11,500.
The commission welcomed Pittsfield's new Recreation & Special Events Coordinator Madelyn Brown, who took over the position from former coordinator Rebecca Manship a few weeks ago.
McGrath also gave an update on several parks initiatives including the Springside Park pickleball court that the commission approved earlier this year.
The city had a kickoff meeting with the court's contractors, WM. J Keller & Sons Construction Corp., and will be breaking ground in August accompanied by a groundbreaking ceremony. It will take about two months to construct.
Clark Green and Bek Architecture of Great Barrington was hired for the interior renovation of Springside House, which received a $500,000 Save America's Treasures matching grant earlier this year accompanied by $500,000 from the city.
In other news, the commission also approved:
• "Revel in Recovery" celebration by the Living in Recovery at the Common on Sept. 14 from 3 to 7 p.m.
• National Night Out celebration by the Pittsfield Police Department at the Common on Aug. 1 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Tags: parks commission, public parks,
