A Very Full Day
The second day, we gathered at Conte School at 8:30 in the morning to get to work on refining a Vision for the West Branch of the Housatonic River from Wahconah Park to Clapp Park in Pittsfield.
The consultants explained the process for the day and divided the participants into three groups: Neighborhoods, Water Quality, and Recreational Opportunities. Each group spent the morning discussing their subject and brainstorming ideas. Before lunch each group gave a presentation on what they had come up with.
After lunch, all the participants were re-grouped into two groups, both with the same mission: to create a vision by drawing our thoughts on a map of the area, then to come up with 5 actions that could be done in the next 2 months to 2 years.
Both groups action items included educating people who live along the river about best management practices to protect the river – like leaving trees and bushes to shade the river, not putting anything down stormdrains that you wouldn’t want to swim in, and not letting trash get into the river.
Both groups also thought there should be an annual party celebrating the river – possibly a “progressive” party starting at Wahconah Park in the morning, then Pitt Park for lunch, Dorothy Amos in the afternoon, and ending at Clapp Park.