Resource Management Plan

Pittsfield Planning Unit

Pittsfield State Forest is located in the Berkshires along the New York state boundary in the Towns of Hancock and Lanesborough and the City of Pittsfield. Satellite parks directly associated with Pittsfield State Forest include Balance Rock State Park located at the northern end of Pittsfield State Forest and Bates Memorial State Park at the southern end of the forest.  The planning unit also includes Wahconah Falls State Park, Ashmere Lake State Park, Middlefield State Forest, Peru State Forest, Richmond State Forest, and South Mountain where DCR’s West Region headquarters is located.

Pittsfield State Forest provides a variety of recreation opportunities including camping, picnicking, non-motorized boating and fishing, hunting, and a variety of non-motorized and motorized trail uses. Bates Memorial State Park was donated to the Commonwealth with the stipulation that it be managed as a wildlife sanctuary.

Resource Management Plans (RMPs) are working documents that consider the past, present and future of a property. They draw on available existing information to provide an inventory and assessment of existing conditions and activities, enabling the DCR to establish guidelines for future management. Results of this planning process include guidance for short and long-term management of properties and identification of priorities for capital and operating budgets.

Public input is an important component of the process. It enhances communication and cooperation among the DCR, park visitors, stakeholders, partners, and the surrounding communities.

Comments regarding this project may be sent to dcr.updates@state.ma.us, noting “Pittsfield RMP” in the subject line. They may also be sent to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Public Outreach, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114.  Public comments submitted to DCR will be posted in their entirety on the DCR website, and no content, including  personal information will be redacted.

Updates and materials concerning the Pittsfield State Forest resource management planning process will be posted at www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/rmp.htm.

Project Manager

Andy Backman

Department of Conservation and Recreation

251 Causeway Street, Suite 700

Boston, MA 02114