Written by Kateri Kosek
The Great Barrington Land Conservancy, which stewards the town-owned Lake Mansfield Recreation Area, was celebrating the completion of years of improvements to the tranquil public space, which feels much more removed than it is from the bustle of downtown.
Great Barrington — On Saturday, June 7, the rain let up just in time for the Great Barrington Land Conservancy’s (GBLC) third annual Bluegrass Celebration and Fundraiser to get off to a slightly delayed start on the shores of Lake Mansfield. Again, the bluegrass trio of GBLC board member Kate Roblin on fiddle, Sam Clement on guitar, and Dave Lawlor on mandolin entertained a modest but enthusiastic crowd, though the musicians opted for an unamplified, acoustic set due to a threat of lightning. The community event was free; the nonprofit gratefully accepted donations and even garnered a few new volunteers through the event. As Director Christine Ward noted, SoCo Creamery, which has always donated very generously to their organization, provided free ice cream.
The Great Barrington Land Conservancy, which stewards the town-owned Lake Mansfield Recreation Area, was celebrating the completion of years of improvements to the tranquil public space, which feels much more removed than it is from the bustle of downtown. The projects have been a collaborative effort between the GBLC, the town, the Department of Public Works, and the town-appointed Lake Mansfield Improvement Task Force.
So the group, which maintains the River Walk and Riverfront Trails as well as trails at Pfeiffer Arboretum, is in need of fiscal support from the community, said Ward. “It’s a real challenge, because there’s a lot of need right now.” Despite generous in-kind donors, GBLC does finance a lot of their purchases. They also frequently hire Greenagers to work on their trails, investing in young people. This spring, a Greenagers trail crew fixed the ailing trail entrance from Christian Hill Road to Lake Mansfield Conservation Forest. “They literally moved tons of crushed stone to make it a more accessible trail,” said Ward.
They can always use more volunteers, too, to help with trail maintenance or pulling invasive species. GBLC will hold another volunteer work day on Saturday morning, June 21. The public is also welcome to attend their community meeting Tuesday, June 24, at Berkshire Food Co-op, to learn more about the nonprofit’s accomplishments, goals, and upcoming events.
