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.

• "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.

ServiceNet Cuts Ribbon on Vocational Farm to 'Sow Seeds of Hope'

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:30AM / Saturday, May 18, 2024

Lori Carnute plants flowers at the farm and enjoys seeing her friends. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Smiles were all around as farmers, human service workers, and officials cut the ribbon Friday on ServiceNet's new vocational farm on Crane Avenue.

Whether it is planting flowers or growing fresh produce, the program is for "sowing seeds of hope" for those with developmental disabilities.

"What Prospect Meadow Farm is about is changing lives," Vice President of Vocational Services Shawn Robinson said.

"Giving people something meaningful to do, a community to belong to, a place to go every day and to make a paycheck, and again, I am seeing that every day from our first 17 farmhands the smiles on their faces. They're glad to be here. They're glad to be making money."

Prospect Meadow Farm Berkshires held a launch event on Friday with tours, music, snacks, and a ribbon cutting in front of its tomato greenhouse. The nonprofit human service agency closed on the former Jodi's Seasonal on Crane Avenue earlier this year.  

It is an expansion of ServiceNet's first farm in Hatfield that has provided meaningful agricultural work, fair wages, and personal and professional growth to hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since opening in 2011.

Eventually, the farm will employ 50 individuals with developmental disabilities year-round and another 20 to 25 local folks supporting their work.

The pay is a great aspect for Billy Baker, who is learning valuable skills for future employment doing various tasks around the farm. He has known some of the ServiceNet community for over a decade.

"I just go wherever they need me to help," he said. "I'm more of a hands-on person."