Work on Pontoosuc Lake will start this spring.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The first phase of improvements to Pontoosuc Lake Park will begin as soon as the ground defrosts.

Work on the south side bordering Hancock Road will kick off in March and run through the summer.  This will enhance the accessibility of the 23-acre parcel and add a boardwalk along the shore.

"We are in an Arctic freeze moment here in the Berkshires. We really can't get in there and do anything with the ground up at the park but it'll be a very active March, April, May, June into July," Park, Open Space, and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath told the Parks Commission on Tuesday.

"It will take about four or five months for that project and we're really looking forward to those substantial improvements. That park is really going to be transformed after we're done with implementing the vision."

The city recently signed a contract to start design work for the north side.

"We're working with Berkshire Design Group to get all of that, the beach area, the pathways on the north side, under design and understand what the cost is for those," McGrath reported.

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.

It 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 and the project was boosted by a $500,000 matching grant from the state Executive Office of Energy Environmental Affairs.

This south 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.  Improvements to the south side 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

In other news, McGrath reported that the Wahconah Park Restoration Committee continues to develop construction documents and site work for the project.

"We are entering the phase of the project where we will submit a Notice of Intent to the Conservation Commission for all of the parking lot work and all the drainage, and so that's going to be something that you'll probably see some media attention around," he said.

Flooding has been a consistent concern with the site and an area of focus as part of the grandstand rebuild.

"I think the most important thing for this commission to understand is that we feel like we've come up with a solution on the site which handles all of those drainage problems. Not saying that the park won't flood but basically, we've taken the parking lot which floods and we've cut out half of the lot and we're raising the other half," he explained.

"We've essentially created new detention wetland areas adjacent to the river so when it does flood, it will flood in areas where we want it to flood so we're intentionally creating floodable portions of the parking lot."

He said that 90 percent of the time it will serve the needs of the park.

"There will be times when we're really looking to park cars out on Wahconah Street or up in the neighborhoods but it's always been that way."

The restoration of the 160-year-old Springside House will also pick up after a couple-year hiatus.  It is supported by a $500,000 federal Save America's Treasures grant with a free cash match of $500,000 for interior renovations.

"I think the restoration of the Springside House really puts a cherry on top of the sundae of Springside that will really be the most important project that we undertake," McGrath said.

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