North Adams Announces Downtown Crosswalk Art Project

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— The City of North Adams announced a public art project for downtown North Adams.

The project involves the selection of four artists to create artwork for eight downtown crosswalks. Each selected artist will receive a $2,000 honorarium for design and implementation. The project aims to enhance the visual appeal of the city for residents and visitors.

The initiative follows a previous project that placed artwork on ten downtown electrical boxes.

The project is a collaboration between the Cultural District Committee, Public Arts Commission, Assets for Artists, City Councilor Andrew Fitch and Mayor Jennifer Macksey.

Project Details:

• Four artists will each paint two crosswalks.
• The City of North Adams will prepare the crosswalks for painting.
• Artists will be assigned specific painting windows due to street closure limitations.
• Crosswalk locations:
  • Main Street & American Legion Drive
  • Main Street & Eagle Street
  • Main Street & Holden Street
  • Holden Street & Center Street
  • Eagle Street & Church Street
  • Ashland Street & Main Street
  • Center Street & Marshall Street
  • Eagle Street & Center Street

Project Timeline:

• March 17: Open call begins
• April 4: Submission deadline
• April 14: Decision notification, crosswalk assignment, and request for final design submission
• May 16 - June 6: Painting period
• June 6: Finished product showcase at June First Friday

Submission Requirements:

• One crosswalk art design example (.jpeg or .pdf)
• Contact information
• Statement of connection to and interest in North Adams
• Optional: Link to website and/or social media page

Selected artists will be assigned two crosswalks with dimensions and must submit a final design for approval by April 25.

Submit art here

The North Adams Cultural District Committee, funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural District Funding and other grants, is coordinating the project.

Residents Still Having Issues with Sand from Berkshire Concrete

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
12:27PM / Friday, March 21, 2025

Planners Donald Davis, left, Robert Collins and Zack McCain III hear from residents of the Pleasant Street area. 

DALTON, Mass. — Town officials say they are taking residents' concerns seriously regarding the dust and particulates coating bordering neighborhoods from Berkshire Concrete's unauthorized dig site, which is allegedly causing health issues.

 

In February, the town ordered Berkshire Concrete to stop work because of a "clerical error" that led to the improper notification of abutters. The parcel being excavated, No. 105-16, was not included in the permit application despite being shown on the submitted site map.

 

At the advice of town counsel, all work has stopped, and Berkshire Concrete will be required to reapply for this permit under this parcel number.

 

The Planning Board will be reviewing the mitigation plan recently submitted by Berkshire Concrete and will discuss it at a future meeting. 

 

Although the work has ceased, residents say that they are still experiencing issues because the sand from the dig site is still accessible to the wind. 

 

During Wednesday's Planning Board meeting, more than 50 residents attended, online and in person, to highlight what they have said at several meetings — the need for the town to take action to protect the community's health and environment from the sand leaving the dig site.  

 

Community members voiced frustration over being shuffled among various boards to address their complaints and called for improved collaborative communication between boards and departments.