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Select Board endorses MassWildlife planning to remove Old Maids Park barrier
Summary
After months of community outreach, the Select Board voted unanimously to endorse MassFish & Wildlifeplanning work to remove a dilapidated barrier at Old Maids Park and pursue river restoration, authorizing the agency to begin contracting for engineers and design with continued community input.
The Great Barrington Select Board on July 27 formally endorsed MassFish & Wildlifeplanning to remove a deteriorated barrier at Old Maids Park and restore the Williams River, a step officials said is necessary to improve water quality, public safety and river habitat.
Britney Ebling, executive director of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), summarized months of community outreach and recommended a restoration-first approach, saying the public consistently prioritized water quality and habitat. "Our recommendation ... is for the town to feel as though the pulse that we have observed on the community desired hematoconic is to see this dangerous dam removed while uplifting these other values and objectives," Ebling said.
Andrew Madden of MassFish & Wildlife told the board the agency has secured America the Beautiful Challenge grant funding to remove the barrier and begin design work. "We were awarded the grant, which included restoring this section of the river by removing this barrier," Madden said, and asked for the boardendorsement so the agency can contract engineers and move into design.
Town staff framed the vote as a point-of-decision enabling MassWildlife to proceed; the board voted unanimously to endorse the planning and to formally request MassWildlife continue involving the community in the design process. Officials noted the final design is not set and that MassWildlife and the town will return with details as engineering work proceeds.
Next steps include engineering and design procurement under MassWildlife funding, continued town-facilitated community engagement, and subsequent permitting and construction steps dependent on final designs and state approvals.
