NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Parks & Recreation Commission is looking to do some clean up at River Street Park. 

 

Commissioners on Monday are recommending removing a trashy shed that's been attracting undesirable elements and placing one or more signs on Houghton Street cautioning drivers of the park. 

 

The empty shed is tucked under some trees and not very visible from the road. Its condition is extremely poor.

 

"There have been needles found there," said Commissioner George Canales. "Some of the characters I've seen around there, I'd be afraid to bring my child there."

 

There was an indication that someone may have been sleeping in it. The doors are ripped off, the windows broken and one side kicked in.

 

The commissioners would like it removed as a safety hazard. Canales also suggested the signage after seeing "little kids running across the road to the playground."

 

The barely visible crosswalk runs from Houghton from about the corner of Bracewell Avenue. The commissioners thought either a double-sided sign or one on each side of the road warning of children at play would be helpful. 

 

Canales also raised some concern about the condition of the dog park there, saying it had been littered with feces about a month ago. 

 

"There's a lot of people coming into the city now and a lot of them are bringing dogs," he said, adding the park should be clean since it was an asset to the city.

 

Commissioner Tim Koperek said he'd just been there recently and it was fine. He'd met a woman who brought her dog from Adams just to use the park. 

 

David Willette, who recently gave a presentation to the City Council on the benefits of dog parks, said picking up after dogs was a new thing, and it often takes time for people to work such changes into their lifestyle. 

 

"It's the same 10 percent all the time," he mused, repeating what he'd heard from another community cleanup organizer, Michael Chalifoux. "All it takes is one or five and now you've got dog poop, where the other 95 percent don't leave it."

 

The commissioners also recommended the city clean out the brush along the south fence at Freeman Field. The park is one of those being targeted for removal of dugouts since it is little used for baseball. Instead, it will be a green area for children to play. 

 

"It's still going to be usable for kids that want to use it," Koperek said. "Visibility is a big key on these things. ... the sheds become hangouts."

 

In other business, City Planner Larysa Bernstein updated the commission on progress of the planned splash pad at Noel Field Athletic Complex. 

 

The city has applied for a Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant, the same type of grant used to construct the new Unity Skate Park. The grant should be announced in November.

 

This grant would also be put toward renovating the basketball courts, hopefully adding bleachers, and installing two bocce courts. 

 

"Nothing has been confirmed yet," Bernstein said. "I'm hoping we can get all that accomplished with this round of grants and we're hoping to get a shade structure for passive recreation."

 

The commissioners were pleased at how much the new skate park is being used by children and adults of all ages. They said there had been no problems other than a few people having to be reminded not to use the Hot Dog Ranch parking spots. 

 

"I think the skate board park has been phenomenal," Commissioner Robert LeClair said. "The kids have been asking for that for a long time and they got their wish and they're taking advantage of it."

 

Canales reported that the LaFesta Baseball Exchange with Boston's North End team had gone off well. About 20 players arrived in North Adams for the two-day event; North County children will next head to Boston. 

 

Joe Wolfe Field this weekend will host the New England College Baseball League All-Star games. "I'm crossing fingers that every major scout will be there," Canales said. "I think it's going to be a great weekend."