Parks Commission Walks Through Proposed Pump Track Site

The bike 'pump' track would be constructed by raising funds. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Parks Commission took a stroll through Springside Park on Saturday to review the proposed location of a bike skills park. 

Alison McGee, president of the Berkshire Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association and program lead for the Little Bellas Berkshire Program, pitched the project to the commission last month.

Garrett Pulley of the Berkshire Mountain Bike Training Series and Kevin Delaney of the Shire Shredders also worked on this project.

The commission approved the concept subject to conducting a walkthrough.

The desired location for the park is northeast of the north playground near Reid Middle School.  The park would include a "pump track," which is a continuous loop of contoured and groomed riding surfaces called rollers and berms, and other features.

The purpose of this track is to provide more outdoor recreation in the city and a place where those who enjoy off-road bicycling can "play."

Owner of Powder Horn Trail Co. Will Conroy constructed the plans for the  park and attended the meeting briefly.

At the walkthrough, McGee outlined material options for the pump track. A full dirt pump track would cost around $100,000 and a paved pump track would cost around $200,000.

She explained that even though a paved track would cost more, it would require much less maintenance. She also noted that Powder Horn specializes in "finish work," which includes preserving the natural surroundings of a project.

The project will be paid for by fundraising independent of the city or park, but McGee said they hope local investment group Mill Town Capital will supplement anything they can't raise.

These plans are flexible, she said, such as the actual location of the pump track.

Chairman Anthony DeMartino brought up the conflict of getting running water to the site, saying a pipe would likely have to be run to the site from North Street and could be costly.

The Parks Commission is in support of the plans for the park, but have a few concerns such as maintenance, liability, and getting water access to the site.

These questions will be addressed in the next Parks Commission meeting on Dec. 15.

Stop & Shop Boosts BCC Food Pantry by $7,500

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:34AM / Thursday, April 03, 2025

Posing with the 'big check' Wednesday are BCC program coordinator Meghan Donnelly, in pink, and Stop & Shop's Shannon Karafian, holding the check. To Karafian's right are SGA's Ash Smith and David Castegnaro.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Stop & Shop boosted Berkshire Community College's food pantry by $7,500, providing students with nutritional stability while focusing on education.

Late last year, Stop & Shop donated $7,500 in gift cards to BCC for its Campus Cupboard, making it the 50th college partner of the grocery's School Food Pantry Program. This stocked the on-campus pantry with food and toiletry items available for any student or staff member in need.

"The dedication that we have seen from the staff here, not just in preparing for today's event, but their commitment all year round to supporting the students here has been just truly a sight to see," said Shannon Karafian, the grocer's School Food Pantry program manager, noting "We know there's a need."

BCC's essential needs coordinator Meghan Donnelly said the donation, made in November, has tremendously impacted the college community and will be instrumental in assuring the pantry shelves have a variety of stock.

"We were thrilled to have the money," explaining that the grocery chain took care of the Wednesday's events marking the donation, including a cooking lesson and goodie bags.

"… They have just been absolutely wonderful with supporting us, and we're super, super grateful for their collaboration."

Donnelly is glad to see "quite a bit of growth" in the panty this year and noted the students' kindness and consideration around it. She often hears them worry that someone else might need it more.

"We really want to kind of eliminate that, eliminate the stigma with using this, because students are working so hard and are putting in a lot of hours, a lot of various roles that they're playing," she said.