Westside Legends Halloween Party doubles as a way to gather feedback on Pittsfield’s Francis Avenue parklet project

Berkshire Eagle

PITTSFIELD — “What do you wish people knew about your neighborhood?”

That was among many questions West Side residents were asked at a Sunday Halloween party that was about much more than costumes and candy.

Specifically, it was for a prompt for a “secret poem” asking residents to describe the Francis Avenue neighborhood in exchange for a prize (a gift card to Target). The responses will give city planners a better sense of how residents want to see the neighborhood transform, and what elements of it they already cherish.

The party was held at the Francis Avenue parklet, which has undergone recent improvements, including weed removal and the installation of a new bench.

The occasion also doubled as a way to collect feedback on the city’s plans to revamp a nearby and vital staircase that connects the West Side to Big Y World Class Market and CVS Pharmacy.

That was by design. Tony Jackson, president of Westside Legends, said the party was held at the Francis Avenue parklet in order to give project architect Tessa Kelly a chance to speak with West Side residents about their options for the staircase.

That project, a collaboration between the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Gray to Green and the city of Pittsfield, will address several issues, including the need for a ramp to improve accessibility for people in wheelchairs and lighting systems for easier navigation in the dark.

Full article HERE.