After decades of planning, the city plans to break ground on phase 1 this year.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Conservation Commission has greenlighted vast improvements to Pontoosuc Lake Park.

On Thursday, the commission issued 36 conditions for the city project that include a new boardwalk, access stairs, paring improvements, seasonal docks, and a new swimming beach on the park's two properties at 1447 North St. and 40 Hancock Rd.

Work will be within the 100-foot wetland buffer, bordering vegetated wetlands, bank, and land under waterbodies, requiring ConCom approval.

"This is a big project, as you can tell," Conservation Agent Robert Van Der Kar said.

After decades of planning, the city plans to break ground on phase 1 this year.  A $500,000 matching grant from the state Executive Office of Energy Environmental Affairs boosted the effort.

"I like personally where you're going with this in the sense that I think you're trying to make some sensible judgments," Commissioner Jonathan Lothrop said.

The 23-acre parcel on Hancock Rd., or the south side, will be focused on first.  This area is being targeted for passive recreation, with the north side encouraged for swimming to protect resource areas and reduce conflict between swimmers and boaters.

South side improvements include:

• transforming the current grass path to a paved promenade with a boardwalk around the wetland area
• a gathering spot and overlook
• improving the health of the white pine trees
• some clearing of the west side to improve the views
• repairing the upper parking lot
• adding an accessible path that will come down to the boat parking lot and connect to the accessible path
• benches and picnic tables

The sloped area has an over 50-foot elevation difference from the upper parking lot to the lake.  

"We want to improve that to make a paved promenade that would allow visitors to the southern side to be able to kind of just have more of a pedestrian space to visit the site and also enjoy the views of the lake which is really the best part of the southern side of Pontoosuc Lake Park," said Doug Serrill, landscape designer at Berkshire Design Group.

"And where it intersects with the bordering vegetated wetland we're proposing that it be changed to an elevated boardwalk."

The planners proposed pressure-treated wood for the boardwalk, as it is the cheapest option.  It ends with an observation deck that goes just over the water.

"We thought that this would be an excellent contribution to this park to embrace that it's kind of an iconic park in the City of Pittsfield," Serrill added.

There was some discussion about the material of the boardwalk due to concern for the vegetation beneath.

"I just want to point out is the decking material for the boardwalk because it plays into the limited project, which requires that the light penetrates through it," Van Der Kar said.

"So our plants photosynthesize. We need them to grow so I really would like to see some ability for the light to get through to the bottom and the vegetation to be able to grow underneath the deck."

He added that the commission may have to consider the space underneath the deck as an impact to the bordering vegetated wetland if light can't go through.

It was asked if the boards could be spaced further apart to allow for this but Americans with Disabilities Act standards don't allow a gap larger than a half inch.  Steel material with perforations —painted green to look more natural— was another suggestion.

"We would be happy to look further into materials to allow it to have greater light penetration," Serrill said.

Pontoosuc Lake Park was acquired by the city in 1913 and has not received substantial improvements since the 1960s. Historic pictures of the park show beach facilities, ferry boats, and large slides

The project is part of a long-range open space and recreation plan for the city that was developed in the early 2000s and a master plan that was endorsed by the commission in 2022. There were five public hearings leading up to this point.

The final design was OK'd by the Parks Commission in April.  It is influenced by the legacy of the park and feedback that was provided through public outreach focused on maintenance, accessibility, safety, the ability to access water for swimming, and passive and active places within the park.

Improvements to the north side include:

• work on the retaining wall that has spillage issues
• adding a swimming area and floating dock
• a changing room with a basic outdoor shower and port-o-potty
• enhancing accessibility to the water with stairs and a pathway
• picnic tables and seating
• an accessible kayak and canoe launch

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