Kirvin Park Restoration
GE is implementing a natural resource restoration project at Kirvin Memorial Park in Pittsfield, in consultation with the City of Pittsfield and the Massachusetts Subcouncil of the Housatonic Natural Resource Trustees (including the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service).
The project will restore approximately 12 acres of floodplain habitat along Sackett and Ashley Brooks in the south end of the park, including 9.75 acres of floodplain forest and 2.25 acres of freshwater wetlands, while also creating a two-acre pollinator habitat area. More than 24,000 native trees, shrubs, vines, and grasses will be planted to replace invasive species that currently impair ecosystem diversity and function within the Housatonic River Watershed.
Work began in Spring 2026 with invasive species removal. This will be followed by landscaping, plantings, and maintenance in 2027, and will include refurbishing the trail bridge over Sackett Brook and improving trail conditions in wet areas. The park will remain open to the public throughout the project, except in designated restoration and staging areas. The section of trail adjacent to the work area may be closed for brief periods during work conducted immediately next to the trail to ensure public safety. Trail access south of Sackett Brook will be protected from work activities. The project will be monitored according to specific performance standards outlined in the Consent Decree to ensure successful habitat restoration.
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Restoration activities at Kirvin Memorial Park will include the removal of invasive plant species such as the common buckthorn.
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KIRVIN PARK - Work in Progress
AUGUST 2026
Removal of invasive plants throughout the floodplain and in the pollinator meadow area. This included initial herbicide treatment of herbaceous invasive plants, then cutting and chipping the woody invasives. The chips have all been removed from the site.
Preparations are under way for the wetland creation area work. This involves excavation in part of the floodplain to establish wetland grades, and moving the excavated material into the pollinator meadow area.
Turtle monitoring has continued through all the work, with four wood turtles encountered and protected.
Buckthorn are among the invasive woody plants removed as part of the Kirvin Park restoration.