PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new sign for Durant Park will be the model for all park signs in the future.

 

Parks and Open Space Manager Jim McGrath presented the design to the Parks Commission on Tuesday, showing a fairly basic sign with letter naming the park, the city's seal, and a note that it is overseen by the Parks Commission. McGrath said the signage replicates the standard signs at the city's conservation areas except with a green background instead of maroon.

 

"We'd like this commission to be thoughtful about is this the right sign and I think it is," McGrath said, hoping that the sign will become the template for all parks signs.

 

As of now, the city parks have differing signs. McGrath hopes to slowly replace those over time starting with the new sign at Durant, which had already been budgeted. There the two-sided signs will be placed at both entrances.

 

"They are very simple and straightforward in their design," he said. "The idea is that the view from the road, they all have a consistent look."

 

McGrath said the plan isn't to do a wholesale replacement of park signs but when resources come together. McGrath said the city does have a sign shop in-house as well a good relationship with Pixley Signs to get the work done.

 

Chairman Simon Muil liked the design McGrath presented.

 

"I think short, sweet, and to the point," he said.

 

Parks Commissioner Anthony DeMartino suggested possibly adding an established date as well. McGrath said that is possible, but warned about the most recent attempt to do so. When the city rebuilt the First Street Common the design plans used 1870 as a placeholder with the intent that the established date would be verified.

 

"That was never verified," he said.

 

A Google search pulled up a copy of "The History of Pittsfield, Massachusetts from the year 1876 to the year 1916" by Edward Boltwood. That showed the Common was established as a city park in 1883. So the date carved into the stone outside of the Common is wrong.

 

"The detail that was in the construction plans showed the construction of this sign wall," McGrath said.

 

After Durant Park, the next new sign would likely be at Clapp Park. McGrath said he is currently working with the Rotary and the Buddy Pellerin Field Committee on applying for a state grant for a large renovation of that park. 

 

"That grant will go in in July and there is not match required by the city, that is being paid by the partners," McGrath said. "It is a big visible project for the city with some really good, strong partners."

 

Christopher Porter Park on Highland Avenue has a similar interest in revitalization. Porter's family has raised some $23,000 and on Tuesday the Parks Commission accepted a donation of new playground equipment for the park. 

 

"This is intentionally designed to be a very colorful playground," McGrath said. "That's exactly what we want and that is exactly what the family wants."

 

Currently, the park only has two swing sets and a slide. The new equipment will replace those. The family is also looking for new picnic tables and benches. As for a sign though, the Parks Commission raised eyebrows about a sign the Porter family constructed and erected on the site. Commissioners felt the sign's size was too jarring and expressed concern that the commission was not notified of the construction.

 

Nonetheless, they still thanked the Porter family for all of the efforts they have put into the park.

 

McGrath said he'd like to replace the sign with one that fits the newly accepted design. 

 

Durant Park is scheduled to get a new shelter. McGrath said Greylock Federal Credit Union donated $25,000 for the new shelter and it has been ordered. But, the installation is dependent on city resources and donated labor so scheduling the installation has become somewhat challenging. 

 

"We're going to do what we can to get this thing in," McGrath said.

 

As for the future dog park at Burbank, McGrath said he is working on getting a preliminary design and cost estimates to go with the city's application for funding from the Stanton Foundation. But, he emphasized that the city won't build it unless the friends group, a volunteer effort to manage and oversee the operations, is formed. 

 

"We absolutely need to make sure this is a committee that is well functioning and has the resources they need," McGrath said. "This dog park isn't going to be built until we are confident that we have the right people."

 

Dog parks tend to lend themselves to more stewardship by nature but if there isn't a strong group, the park could go south quickly, McGrath said. As the design unfolds and grants are applied, he's hoping the friends group can become a strong force as well.

 

Springside Park will also see some temporary new structures. Chris Parkinson and Tessa Kelly are heading the Mastheads project, an art, history, and residency program. The two are constructing small writers studios based on historical authors in the city. The buildings will then be open to resident writers to work out of. In total five are being construction with one eyed to be in Springside Park. 

 

"They are basically open air pavilions," Parkinson said, adding that the small structures will be brought in on a trailer in July and placed inside the park. It will be removed at the end of the project.

 

"I anticipate very little disruption to the landscape," he said. "It is pretty minimally invasive."