Pittsfield Announces 2026 Summer Playground Program

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development Recreation Program announces the return of the Summer Playground Program for 2026.

The Summer Playground Program is a free, six-week-long, program held at Clapp Park, Durant Park and The Common that offers a wide range of recreation activities to Pittsfield children between the ages of 6 to 13.

This year's program will run from July 6 to August 14 with new hours from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at each designated location. There is no cost to participate in the program.

If there is inclement weather, the program will move from each park to the Berkshire Family YMCA Pittsfield Branch located at 292 North Street. Details of these changes will be shared on the Pittsfield Parks and Recreation Facebook and Instagram pages.

During the program, Playground Leaders will supervise safe and enjoyable outdoor activities at each site including sports, games, arts and crafts and nature activities. In addition, the program is partnering with various organizations to offer the following:

• Community health workers from Volunteers in Medicine will be present at each park during the first and second week of the program to assist families with registration and provide interpretation services in Spanish.
• The Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (MassDOT) Safe Routes to School program will be visiting the three parks throughout the summer to offer bike safety demos, bike traffic garden events, and a bike rodeo.
• The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will be visiting each park to offer an EnviroScape demonstration activity during the second week of the program.
• The Berkshire Athenaeum will be offering summer reading related activities at each park during the program.
• Pittsfield Public Schools (PPS) will be providing and serving free lunches daily at each park. Snacks will also be provided by PPS for program participants.

No pre-registration is necessary, but parents or guardians must fill out a registration form on their child's first day of attendance with a Playground Leader on-site.

For more information,  contact Jennifer VanBramer, Recreation and Special Events Coordinator, at jvanbramer@pittsfieldma.gov or (413) 499-9371.

Allendale Pines North Affordable Manufactured Homes Sell Fast

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:17PM / Saturday, August 22, 2026

Developer Teton Management cut the ribbon on the first six hopes in the manufactured housing community earlier this year. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Just a few months after Allendale Pines North cut the ribbon on its first six homes in the new manufactured home community, units in the planned development are selling fast with both first and second phases all but sold out.

 

For several years, Teton Management Corp. has been planning to expand its existing Allendale Pines Mobile Community with the development of 22 planned manufactured housing units. The new development has its own entrance at 395 Cheshire Road. 

 

The need for attainable housing has never been higher, Teton President George Whaling said. 

 

"And where we sought the opportunity to help with that demand is, we can get folks into a home at Allendale Pines North for essentially a couple of $100 less than what it would cost for someone to rent a three-bedroom of the same quality," he said. 

 

The corporation took over Allendale Pines, now referred to as Allendale Pines South, about 6 1/2 years ago, Whaling said. 

 

Since then, the corporation has invested $1,000,001 in infrastructure improvements, including replacing all water and sewer lines, paving the community and installing the infrastructure needed for 10 additional units, he said. 

 

Additionally, it has been working to clean up and improve the community, which was lacking during previous ownership, said Jason Nocher, owner of Nocher Realty, which has been hired to help sell the units.