Pittsfield hopes to have the splash pad installed at Durant Park by this summer.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Durant Park splash pad project has been boosted by more than $200,000 in state funds. 

A 700-square-foot outdoor water attraction is planned for the 2.1-acre park at 30 John St. City officials hope to have it operational by summertime. 

On Tuesday, the City Council accepted $215,980 from the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to install a stormwater treatment system on Francis Avenue and a splash pad at the park. BRPC has agreed with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs' Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program to administer the funds. 

"This is a really easy thing, I think, for most of us to support, at least for me. It's a good investment for the neighborhood. The West Side has been asking for this for a long time," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said. 

"But it also makes a neighborhood climate change resilient in terms of finding a place to cool down for families and kids, and it's constructive." 

Durant Park currently hosts a 4,750-square-foot playground, basketball court, softball field, picnic area, and sitting areas. Visitors would be able to cool off on the splash pad located between existing playground structures with asphalt sidewalks connecting them.

The park is located in the heart of the West Side neighborhood and is within walking distance of many households. Over the summer, a mural honoring Black city residents who fought in the Civil War was installed on site. 

Director of Community Development Justine Dodds reported that the city doesn't yet know the project's final cost, but the splash pad is believed to be less costly than the stormwater improvements.  This grant will further prepare work done in previous years, and design documents are mostly completed, Dodds reported. 

The city will have three splash pads after Durant Park is installed. 

Facilities at The Common and Clapp Park needed significant repairs last year after vandals stripped major components, such as copper, from control rooms.  The metal is commonly stolen and sold for profit.

The building maintenance department last year committed to finding new ideas to protect park buildings and prevent future break-ins. 

The council also accepted communications indicating that Open Meeting complaints filed by Karen Kalinowsky and Michael Daly in the fall are closed. The Office of the Attorney General gave the complainants until Oct. 29 to request for review, and wrote that the individuals' inaction means action taken by the council was sufficient and the file is closed. 

Kalinowsky, who ran for councilor at large in the last election, and Michael Daly, a podcaster, alleged that six councilors discussed the proposed "Camping on Public Property" ordinance during a "Homes not Handcuffs" meeting on July 31. 

The Open Meeting Law prohibits serial communication between members of a public body that reaches a quorum of members outside of a meeting that has been noticed. Kalinowsky was at the meeting and said the discussion happened at another table, and Daly was not present. 

Council President Peter White, Councilor at Large Alisa Costa, Ward 1 Councilor Kenny Warren, Ward 2 Councilor Brittany Noto, Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi, and Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre were named in the complaints. 

Kalinowksy and Daly indicated that they believed the alleged violation was an accident, and asked that councilors admit the mistake and review OML guidelines.  

"The individuals that file these never follow through, despite going to a social media show and railing against our public responses and questioning the authenticity of what we were saying," Lampiasi said. 

"What was submitted to the AGO was what was said at this committee. The timeline with the election process and the fact that they never followed up, I think that those people at home and the media should really consider the word for the individuals that filed these complaints." 

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