Pittsfield Parks Commission OKs Summer EventsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:01PM / Monday, May 22, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city will see a summer of events in recreation, fitness, and well-being.
On Tuesday the Parks Commission approved a variety of happenings for the warm months including the well-known Live on The Lake, which will happen on Wednesdays from July 5 to August 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The community concert series has been held on the shores of Onota Lake for over 20 years, but it took a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned the following year.
"In 2002 we teamed up with Greylock Federal Credit Union to create Live on The Lake, a free community concert series to be held Wednesday evenings on the shores of Onota Lake in July and August," explained Peter Barry of WBEC Townsquare Media.
"It's been going great. This will be our 21st year. Time flies and we would like to do it again."
Food offerings usually include ice cream, pizza, and an additional food vendor. Barry explained that before the pandemic, bouncy houses and other kids' activities were brought in, and they will see what the transmission rates look like before returning those aspects.
He spoke to the organizers' drive to keep the event family-friendly throughout the years.
"We really made a huge effort over the years to direct it towards families and enforcing no smoking, no alcohol, any of those things," Barry explained.
"So it really became a great family event."
Commissioners said that the event is very popular.
On the fourth Friday of each month, the Berkshire County Sherriff's Office will be holding service fairs titled "Ready When You Are" in partnership with Berkshire Harm Reduction.
The events will happen at The Common from May 26 to September 28 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
"This is just a day basically that we're planning to do once a month to bring all of these serviced to the park to engage with the foot traffic in the area for people that are at any stage of addiction and to be there for whatever they need," Outreach Substance Abuse Counselor Luke Fitzgerald explained.
He reported that a representative from the Behavioral Health Network will be there to get people into a treatment bed if they are willing. A ride would pick the person up within an hour.
"This is something that we want to start small here and then see where it goes," he said.
"I work with all these people on an almost daily basis so it's just kind of to combine forces and see what kind of traction we get."
The Garden skate shop's annual Spring Jam will take place at the East Street skate plaza on May 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"The kids are super excited and as you can see, that park is getting a ton of use," Founder Bill Whittaker said.
He said that the park is "on the map" and it is great to see users' skills improve over the years.
"These guys have done a lot of these events over the years and they've all been successful," Park, Open Space, and Natural Resources Program Manager James McGrath reported.
"We've never heard any negative from neighbors or abutters and when these guys come in they clean up after themselves."
Whittaker said that the community is "psyched" to have a park like this and it is a huge asset.
Other approved parks events:
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Beat The Streets summer basketball league, Dorothy Amos Park from July 2 to August 13
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11th Annual Sweltering Summer Ultramarathon by the Berkshire Running Community for Service at Clapp Park on August 12 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Literacy in the park by the Berkshire Athenaeum and Pittsfield's Central Berkshire ParentChild+ at Tucker Park, Ray Crow Park, The Common, Demming Park, Allen Heights, and Durant Park on Thursdays from July 6 to August 10, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
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Teddy Bear Picnic by the Berkshire Athenaeum at The Common on July 12 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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Westside Block Party by the Westside Legends at Westside Riverway Park on May 27 from noon to 6 p.m.
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Christian Center Community Day at The Christian enter of Pittsfield on July 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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International Overdose Awareness Day by Living in Recovery at The Common and Park Square on August 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
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Shire Fitness series at Burbank Park, Pontoosuc Park, and Clapp Park from May 22 to November 4.
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Care-nival by the Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention at The Common on June 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Xtrordinary Day by Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity at the Westside Riverway Park on September 11 and 12 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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