Great Barrington launches climate planning initiative at Old Maid’s Park in Housatonic
Housatonic — The town has announced the launch of a two-year initiative to develop a climate-resilient improvement plan for Old Maid’s Park. The park is located at 30 Wyantenuck Street along the Williams River in Housatonic. The project is funded via the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant program.
According to Great Barrington Assistant Town Manager Chris Rembold, who is also the town’s Director of Planning and Community Development, the $80,860 MVP Action Grant from the state will be utilized for community engagement work, which will be conducted by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). As such, the project will be centered on extensive community engagement, allowing residents to share their ideas for the park’s future.
“Not a lot of people know about Old Maid’s Park as a community resource, and we love to invite people to experience what is there,” Rembold said. “There is a picnic area, and it is so close to the town’s Village Green and the Housatonic Rail Trail. The town has some great resources, but Old Maid’s Park seems to be forgotten about sometimes. It’s one of the few places in town where, during the hot summer months, you can access water, shade, and cooling for free.”
Rembold said one of the project’s goals is to improve community awareness of the park.
“It’s in a really quiet neighborhood,” he said. “It’s just one of those spaces that people pass by, but it’s a nice space.”
Another goal of the project is to speak with the community to see how the park can be improved, if needed, to meet the community’s needs.
“We recognize that, as the climate warms and as precipitation gets heavier and more erratic, all of our open spaces are vulnerable to a changing climate,” he said. “We need to figure out how, through the lens of climate change, this space might change and how we should be ready for it.”
Rembold said that it is difficult to know how the conditions in the park could change in the future. “But what is known is that precipitation will be more erratic,” he reiterated. “Winters are going to be wetter, and summers could be wetter. With that in mind, there are things that could be improved upon. For example, stormwater that comes in from the road and the parking area drains right into the river unfiltered. That’s not good for the river, so that is one problem we could address.”
Additionally, the banks along the Williams River are infested with invasive plant species.
“Those plants, which include weeds, make it difficult for wildlife and people to get around the river,” he said. “Addressing the stormwater and invasive plant species problems are two potential projects that the town could undertake to improve the park area.”
Rembold said that BEAT’s community engagement initiative will include open house events at the park, along with community planning sessions.
“BEAT has a wonderful approach to community engagement,” he said. “They are great when it comes to speaking to people, and we’re excited to work with them. They bring to the table more than my office can offer because I’m just one person handling multiple projects. BEAT will help us stay focused on this project, and their experience in community engagement is wonderful.”
Rembold said that the first open house event at the park is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, with additional events to be announced in the future.
In addition to BEAT, the town will partner with the Housatonic Valley Association, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and Language Justice Solutions for the Old Maid’s Park project.