Summer Playground Program at Four City Parks

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Department of Community Development Parks & Recreation Program has announced that it will be continuing the Summer Parks Playground Program at four city parks this summer for six weeks. The program offers a wide variety of recreation activities to city children at no cost. Playground Leaders will create safe, supervised and fun-filled environments with activities including sports, games, arts and crafts, and nature activities.

The program begins Monday, July 6 and will run through Friday, August 14th.  Normal hours will be Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, and then 1 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Playground Leaders will be stationed at the Common, Clapp Park, Pitt Park, and Deming Park. The Summer Playground Program is designed to provide "drop-in" activities for children and is not a substitute for day camp or childcare.

There is always something going on at a Summer Playground site; it may be a challenging game of checkers or a cool water balloon fight. The Summer Playground Program offers even more than a fun time - it fosters self-esteem and friendships and provides participants with positive and caring role models. Also, it lets parents feel good about sending their children to their neighborhood playground, knowing that there will be supervision. For more information, please contact Rebecca Tefft, the Recreation Activities Coordinator, at 499-9370.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

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