PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city of Pittsfield will celebrate the new extension of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, which connects the existing trail at Berkshire Mall Road with Crane Avenue, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, May 7, at 10 a.m.

 

The event will be held at the Crane Avenue trail crossing.

 

Ceremony speakers include Mayor Linda Tyer; James McGrath, the city's park and open spaces program manager; Chris Cozzaglio of U.S. Rep. Richard Neal's office; state Sen. Adam Hinds, state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Paul Mark, and members of the state Department of Transportation.

 

In addition to the ribbon-cutting, the event will feature vendors, displays, and family-friendly activities. Event parking will be available in the Allendale Shopping Center.

 

The project is the culmination of many years of planning, with many local and state partners and organizations, for a bike and pedestrian trail in Pittsfield that uses the former Housatonic Railroad corridor track.

 

"Here in the city of Pittsfield, we are truly privileged to have an abundance of outdoor amenities. Now, after many years of planning, designing, engineering, and funding, we can add the Ashuwillticook bike trail extension to that list. It's my hope that all members of our community will experience and enjoy the beauty of this majestic trail," the mayor said in a statement. 

 

The new 1.5-mile section will create a 14.2-mile walking and biking path from Crane Avenue in Pittsfield to Lime Street in Adams. Another section is being constructed in Williamstown with plans to extend it into North Adams and eventually south to hook up at Lime Street. 

 

The cost of the new path was about $2.3 million. 

 

McGrath, who has been a part of this project for many years, said the extension marks a milestone. It is the city's intention to continue the planning for future extensions of the trail southerly through the city to a connection point in Lenox, he said.

 

"We're excited to see this trail extension finally being realized. It's been in the planning stages for more than a decade, and through the efforts of numerous bike trail advocates and other stakeholders, we are now able to say it has arrived in Pittsfield," said McGrath.

 

The trail's arrival is a huge benefit to various segments of the community, said Marjorie Cohan, president of the Berkshire Bike Path Council, adding "the May 7 event will bring together a diverse group of cyclists, walkers, runners, and outdoor enthusiasts, who want to thank the city of Pittsfield for expanding the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. This trail is a centerpiece of the county recreation resources."

 

In recognition of the longstanding collaborative effort that helped to bring this project to light, Cohan said Ashuwillticook "hero medals" will be distributed to individuals who have made major contributions to the trail's development.

 

Prior to the start of the ceremony, experienced road cyclists will gather at 8:30 a.m. at Park Square. The group will take North Street to Tyler Street and then travel on Benedict Road toward the event on Crane Avenue. Additionally, a group of cyclists from North Adams plan to meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Armory, 206 Ashland St., and will then head to the Ashuwillticook Trail. 

 

Path riders can join at various locations: 8:30 a.m., Adams Visitors Center; 9:15 a.m., intersection of trail and Main Street in Cheshire; and 9:30 a.m., Farnum Cross Road (north of Whitney's Farm Market & Garden Center, 1775 South State Road, Cheshire).

 

There will also be a family-friendly ride leaving from the mall trailhead at 9:35 a.m. A secure area will be available with bike stands courtesy of Mass Bike. All cyclists will receive a free raffle ticket and the first 50 children under 12 will receive a cookie and $5 coupon for

Panera Bread.