DCR's Free Family Programming in Western Massachusetts for February School Vacation Week

HOLYOKE, Mass. — The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is excited to announce its lineup of free, family-friendly programs in Western Massachusetts for the upcoming February school vacation week.

Running from Saturday, Feb. 15, through Sunday, Feb. 25, families can enjoy 79 engaging programs at 20 state parks and watersheds in the western region. Activities include guided hikes, bird watching, animal tracking, crafting, and maple sugaring, all designed to encourage kids to get outdoors and experience the natural beauty of the state’s parks.

In addition to the special programs, DCR is waiving parking fees at participating parks throughout the region. Public skating hours at agency-managed rinks will be extended from 10 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. daily. The regular offerings, including self-guided hikes and visitor center exhibits, will also be available. For a complete list of staff-led and self-guided activities, visit DCR’s website.

Highlights of Western Massachusetts Programming Include:

Live Birds of Prey at Holyoke Range State Park, 1500 West St., Amherst
Saturday, February 15, 1 – 3 p.m.
Get a close-up look at owls, hawks, and other birds of prey with Tom Ricardi, a licensed rehabilitator and wildlife biologist. Learn about the Massachusetts Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center, which cares for injured birds. This event is suitable for ages 7 and up. Meet at Notch Visitor Center. No dogs allowed. For more information, call 413-253-2883.

Winter Wonderland Activity Day at Mount Greylock State Reservation, 30 Rockwell Rd., Lanesborough
Sunday, February 16, 1 – 3 p.m.
This fun-filled program offers winter activities for families of all ages, including crafts, scavenger hunts, board games, and sledding (weather permitting). While the program is primarily self-guided, staff will be available to assist with activities. Children can bring their own sleds. Meet at the visitor center. Dogs are not allowed inside the visitor center. For more information, call 413-499-4262.

For a complete list of all programming available across Western Massachusetts during the February school vacation week, visit DCR’s website. Participants are encouraged to share their photos on social media with the hashtag #MassDCR.

Pittsfield Council Says 'Yes' to Soccer at Crane Park

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:35AM / Saturday, June 13, 2026

The pitch will have the logos of the city and the US. and Massachusetts soccer associations. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is gladly accepting a "mini-pitch" from the U.S. Soccer Foundation to bring games back to Crane Park. 

Fueling excitement around the World Cup, U.S. Soccer has been working with the Massachusetts Youth Soccer League to make these facilities available to 20 communities — one of which will be at the park at the intersection of Benedict Road and Springside Avenue. 

The City Council accepted the gift on Tuesday during its regular meeting. 

A mini pitch is a compact, modular field typically used for soccer, and it can also accommodate inline skates. It has a galvanized steel border with built-in goals and a rubber plastic surface that is clicked together; installed on the existing inline hockey court. 

Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham said he has gone door to door speaking with nearby residents, and they are "really excited" about the upgrade. He also sees it as a great addition. 

"They say that nobody really uses the court a ton now, and they are excited to see kids back on there playing," he said. 

Decades ago, the Crane Park facility was a wading pool. It closed in 1980, and before the turn of the century, it was filled in and marked for hockey. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath explained that the wooden border around the rink is showing its age, has been vandalized and tagged, and the facility is seeing a "real decline" in use. 

"This would seem to be an appropriate spot for us to remove the board system that's in place and install the mini pitch system through this grant," he said.