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Allison McGee, center, explains the plans for a bike skills park to the Parks Commission on a wet Saturday at Springside Park.

Parks Commission Walks Through Proposed Pump Track Site

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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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.


Tags: biking,   parks commission,   Springside Park,   

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Dalton Select Board Candidate Forum Set Thursday

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — iBerkshires.com is hosting a Select Board candidate forum at the Senior Center on Thursday, April 24, at 6 p.m. 
 
Pittsfield Bureau Chief Brittany Polito will ask the candidates questions curated from voter submissions. 
 
The number of questions will be limited by the 90-minute time limit. Each candidate will begin with a two-minute opening statement. Following this, Polito will ask questions. 
 
For every question, the candidates will each have up to 1 1/2 minutes to answer, followed by 30 seconds each to rebut or follow up. The moderator can allow for further debate on a particular question if needed. 
 
At the conclusion of the event, each candidate will have up to 90 seconds to deliver a closing statement.  
 
The event is also being livestreamed on the iBerkshiresTV YouTube channel and broadcast on Dalton Community Cable Association's Channel 1301 in Dalton.  
 
The election is at the Senior Center, located at 40 Field St., on May 12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Don’t forget to also attend the town meeting on Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School. 
 
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