Berkshire Natural Resources Council Awarded Conservation Partnership Grant

08:04AM / Thursday, October 30, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $12 million in grants for projects in 40 communities across Massachusetts that will help protect open space, build parks and give more people access to the outdoors.

The funding will support projects like creating new walking trails, protecting forests and wetlands, building neighborhood parks and preserving land near rivers and lakes that provide drinking water.

In Berkshire County, Berkshire Natural Resources Council was awarded $288,500 for the Depot Brook Corridor Project.

The project is within a half mile of the Appalachian Trail and is a focal area of the Resilient and Connected Network. In addition, it protects forest and coldwater stream habitat, the headwaters of Depot Brook. $288,500 Depot Brook Corridor Project

The Becket Land Trust was awarded $73,550 for the Palmer Brook Forest Corridor. The site is entirely forested, containing diverse wetland systems, including hemlock swamps and boulder deposits, 80 percent of it is mapped BioMap Critical Natural Landscape, and it is adjacent to Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.

"Protecting open spaces is about investing in the health, safety and wellbeing of our communities," said

Governor Maura Healey. "These projects support local economies, improve public health and make our neighborhoods better places to live. This funding helps ensure that every resident has access to the benefits of nature."

The grants are awarded through three programs of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). The Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) helps cities and towns create and renovate outdoor recreation areas. The Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) program supports conservation commissions in protecting natural land. The Conservation Partnership Grant funds nonprofit land trusts that work to conserve open space for future generations.

These grants are part of a broader effort to support local climate resilience and land conservation. The Governor’s recently introduced Mass Ready Act outlines new investments to protect water and nature while growing local economies and preparing communities for extreme weather.

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Lanesborough Seeks State Support for Berkshire Mall Redevelopment

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires.com
05:58PM / Monday, October 12, 2026

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town plans to petition the state to take ownership of the Route 7/Route 8 Connector Road, which officials believe is a "critical component" of the Berkshire Mall’s redevelopment strategy.

On Tuesday, the Select Board approved a letter to state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. John Barrett III to request their support for the vacant mall's redevelopment by helping advance transfer of the Route 7/Route 8 connector and considering funding for essential infrastructure.

"We have held discussions with the Baker Hill Road District … which will take the necessary steps to formally petition the commonwealth to take over ownership of the Route 7, Route 8 connector…Your continued support in facilitating this transfer is greatly appreciated," the letter says.

Berkshire Mall owner JMJ RE Holdings has said the potential sale and redevelopment of the mall hinges on dissolving the Baker Hill Road District, a condition of the agreement that, if unmet, would render the contract null and void.

As a result, the mall will continue to deteriorate and the litigation will proceed forward, said Tim Grogan, of JMJ.

Vera Farrell, the liaison to the Baker Hill Road District, said the district board had discussed at one of its most recent meetings that the connector road could be transferred directly to the state, rather than returned to the town; Barrett and Mark were also a part of the discussion.

"The representatives recommended that as an option, that it could transfer the connector road directly to the state, as opposed to deeding it back to the town to dispense it. If we get to that point, that would be a better option to do it that way," Farrell said.

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