PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is looking to use $25,000 from the governor's Community Compact program to update its parks and open spaces plan.

 

The seven-year plan expired in 2015 and needs to be updated so the city is eligible for state grants to make improvements to parks.

 

Previously, the plan called for improvements to Wahconah Park, which saw upgrades to the sound system and lighting, and the First Street Common, which has been completely renovated with state funds. The updated plan will identify new priorities for state funds.

 

"It is something we would be looking to engage in this spring and early summer," Parks and Open Space Manager James McGrath told the Parks Commission on Tuesday night. "We have to have an open space plan that's been filed by the time we submit this grant." 

 

McGrath is particularly eyeing the state's Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities program, which could provide money for infrastructure improvements. The city will be contracting with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to craft the new plan, which outline the vision for the next five to 10 years. The money hasn't yet been allocated because the city isn't under contract but McGrath expects once it is, a series of public meetings will lead to a quick turnaround in developing the plan.

 

The Springside Park Conservancy meanwhile is already in the midst of crafting a master plan for the 275 acres of parklands there. The conservancy has divided the park into multiple sectors and will make recommendations on the best way to use each one — from educational plans to recreation to conservation. The plan is expected to be in draft form by next month.

 

"I think this is a very solid start for setting a basis in how we look at Springside Park and how we use the park in the future," McGrath said.

 

McGrath also said that recently the department has put numbers to the addresses of city parks. He said many of them were listed only by street, causing trouble for people who were using GPS to find their location. 

 

"That was causing some problems over the last few years. We couldn't provide appropriate locations for GPS," he said.

 

McGrath said he worked with the assessor's office to assign numbers to the streets the parks are located on.

 

In other business, Recreation Coordinator Rebecca Manship reported on a number of successful programs from this winter. She said the North Pole Calling program had 17 volunteers acting as Santa and Mrs. Claus to call 141 city children in the days leading up to Christmas. The annual tree lighting attracted somewhere between 300 and 500 people, she said, and the first free skating opportunity — held in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club — had a full house. 

 

"We invite the first 100 people through the door at the boys and girls club for free admission," Manship said.

 

The first of the four public skating events was Saturday, Jan. 9. The next are also on Saturdays: Jan. 23, Jan. 30and Feb. 20, all on Saturday from 2 p.m. until 3:45 p.m.

 

Manship said operations of the rope tow is set to begin, once the city sees some significant snowfall. The rope tow is ready to go but Manship is still looking for volunteers to help operate it. 

 

"We're ready to go. We just need some help," she said.

 

She is looking for volunteers to run it on Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 4 p.m. and all week during the February school vacation.