Pittsfield Springside Pump Track Planners Want More Support
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Planners for the proposed Springside pump track have presented lower-cost designs and are asking for more help from the city.
While maintaining its support, the Parks Commission emphasized that the project was brought to them in 2020 as a donation. Still, they are willing to up the collaboration.
"We've supported this and if you're asking us to take the initiative to drive it forward, that's different than where we were," Commissioner Anthony DeMartino said, adding that the initiative started strong and has since then faded.
Alison McGee, president of the Berkshire Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association, said she did not have true collaboration from the city to match her effort and got burnt out.
"I want to respectfully but firmly argue that collaboration is not an initiative of one but the initiative of more than one," she said.
"So yes, I have heard that there is the captive support from the city of this project and I know that you have given us some guidance as to what you need from us but I would argue that it is not collaboration and guidance on how we can continue to work on it and the drop in initiative that you are saying you saw was, quite honestly, was burnout on my part because the steps that I was being asked to take were challenging and not as well informed as you might think that they were."
In May, the planners asked for more time to re-evaluate the project and fundraise. The park's 2021 design increased by at least 50 percent, largely due to the price of asphalt. It was last quoted for $400,000, making the new price $600,000 or more.
McGee and Garrett Pulley of the Berkshire Mountain Bike Training Series returned with $400,000 and $250,000 design alternatives and a question about the city's support. Pulley said the amount of work McGee has put into this proposal has made her an expert on the topic but she needs some bureaucratic guidance and help with funding.
"I really hope that we can kind of rally this project again and match the original support that we sort of started with and really push this thing forward," he said.
Commissioners clarified that the city cannot buy into the project but could help connect the planners to possible funding sources. The concept was approved as a donation to the city and the commission was questioned if they only liked it because it was free.
"I think the collaboration piece, what you're asking for, is new for me," Chair Paula Albro said.
"It was always you guys were in charge of this. You brought it to us, like Tony said. We did what we needed to do, we approved it, we had the public hearings but this is the first that I'm hearing that you need more collaboration."
The planners also feel they should not have to account for features that are external to the bike skills park, such as parking and bathrooms. McGee said when she did a public input survey, these were items of concern.
"Those are all things that are really not in our project plan but we, in an effort of goodwill, tried to include some ways of addressing those because we want to support the park and have this be something that was supporting the park, not just benefiting us on our own," she said.
"And so obviously we didn't have the funding to construct a bathroom but I think that's something that's come up a lot, how are people going to use the bathroom, and I think in our agreement as it stands, we would be responsible for a port-a-potty that's an added cost for us and an added responsibility and the parking is less than ideal for even the current use and we know that we would want to make sure that there's parking to support any future increased use, but it's hard for us to aim any funding towards improving that when we also need to focus on the funding to address the bike park itself."
DeMartino said these improvements need to be in tandem with the project, explaining "If we're going to increase the use of the park, then obviously those things need to be addressed so they would go sort of hand in hand with this project moving forward. It shouldn't be that the road needs to be fixed and the parking lot fixed before this project moves forward."
Commissioners found several issues with alternatives brought forward, as there were discrepancies in prices, deviations from the original plan, and exclusion of some necessary elements.
The planners said they had the same issues with the quotes. The commission continued this conversation so planners could follow up with American Ramp Co. on the proposals and return with a more definitive plan.
McGee said she hadn't directly asked for collaboration because she thought it would come organically.
"And it didn't so I think we're just trying to push for it now and I'm happy to advocate for that now but I'm hoping that it will then also result in really great collaboration moving forward to sort of help steer focus again," she said.
DeMartino suggested the two meet with Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath to discuss funding strategies.
"I think if there's a clear understanding on both sides about your expectations from us, as well as ours from you, that we can sort of iron those out and continue to move forward," he said.
Bernie Mack of the Friends of Springside Park and the Springside Park Conservancy attended the meeting to thank the project proponents for all of their work and express his ongoing support.
"I think it's a good project for the park. It's a good fit for the inner city youth who would hopefully potentially be using it," he said.
Tags: biking, Springside Park,
