By By Dylan Thompson,Dylan Thompson — The Berkshire Eagle,The Berkshire Eagle

Copyright berkshireeagle

PITTSFIELD — Anglers frustrated over losing access points for fishing at Pontoosuc Lake Park are one step closer to regaining access.

The Pittsfield Board of Parks Commissioners on Wednesday presented its proposed modification to a bank planting plan, and voted to recommend it to the Conservation Commission for further consideration and modification of the permit.

The modified plan features four points that restore access to 22 percent — 208 feet of the 940 feet — of the affected shoreline.

“I think it’s a good compromise,” Parks Commission member Clifford Nilan said. “I think Jim [McGrath] deserves a lot of credit for getting this project through.”

The monthslong dispute between residents and the Parks Commission centers on the city’s planting of 1,088 native shrubs along the shoreline at Pontoosuc Lake Park on Hancock Road. The city says planting shrubs is necessary combat erosion and stabilize the shoreline, but anglers say the city is moving too quickly on a project they say has cut them off from their traditional fishing spots.

McGrath, the park, open space and natural resource program manager for the city, said that the Parks Commission will communicate with the Conservation Commission to put the revised plan on a future agenda, and that he will give a presentation at a Conservation Commission meeting before it takes a vote.

Whatever the vote is, the Parks Commission can “respond accordingly,” he said. The next Conservation Commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 1. Any changes to the current plans would require permits from the Conservation Commission, he said.

The shrubs are part of the city’s Pontoosuc Lake Park Improvements Project, which is currently in Phase 1 of its development. The improvements for this phase kicked off in March and are about 90 percent complete, McGrath said.

Ten species of shrubs have been planted along the shoreline on the southern side of Pontoosuc Lake Park for shoreline stabilization purposes.

Currently, there are “live stakes” in the ground — a method of establishing new trees or shrubs using dormant, living cuttings that are directly inserted into the soil. McGrath says the shrubs are to “create some bank stabilization” and that most of them will grow 3 to 6 feet tall.

Pittsfield resident and local angler Daniel Miraglia is pleased to see access points and is hopeful that the Conservation Commission will be open to the idea.

“I believe the Conservation Commission is going to be more receptive to an actual dialogue on the actual use [of the shoreline],” he said. “I think they’re going to be receptive to a mixed use of the shoreline of the [lake] for the public.”

However, Miraglia is still urging the city to enlist experts to assist with the issue.

During the bank planting discussion, McGrath presented the information for the proposed modifications using a color-coded map that described each area on the shoreline. The map featured four access points, which he described as “access with additional ease.”

“[We’ve] done a good job spacing these out,” McGrath said. “I think this plan also responds in a very responsible way to the areas of the bank where we’re seeing the most erosion.”

McGrath said the plan proposes removal of live stakes at three of the access points; the other point is an area that is currently open. The area that is currently open is 58 feet and is toward the middle of the map in blue.

The other three access points were marked in red, totaling 150 feet, and McGrath said they are areas where live stakes were planted, and they are proposing that they be removed. Naturally occurring existing vegetation would be left in place.

Another 281 feet, marked in green, are areas of existing bank vegetation and that will not be touched, McGrath said. The largest chunk is 450 feet, marked in pink, where live stakes occurred as part of the project, and it is proposed that it remain in place.

McGrath said that most of the severely eroded portions exist in front of the old beach area.

Miraglia suggested that only two new access points actually are being proposed, noting the two closest to the public access boat ramp have “always been access points.”

During the public address portion of Tuesday’s meeting, Miraglia said he was pleased the agenda included correspondence from Andrew Madden, western district supervisor of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, and Steven Bateman, chairman of the Harry Bateman Fishing Derby Committee.

At last month’s Parks Commission meeting, McGrath was prepared to give a presentation with a map of the shoreline and examples of open spaces the commission planned to create, but that presentation was scuttled by technical difficulties. Wednesday’s meeting featured printed materials instead.

The current phase of the Pontoosuc Lake Park Improvements Project includes not only shoreline stabilization, but also improved accessibility for people with disabilities, a new paved promenade walkway connecting the park to a nearby pier, repairs to both parking lots, and new benches and picnic areas. Phase 2 will address the park’s northern side, which is being developed for swimming, water recreation and gathering spaces.

McGrath said the old beach along the shoreline has turned to a wetland, and it “didn’t lend itself well to a swimming beach.”

The project is being paid for with a $500,000 state Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant, along with approximately $400,000 in capital funds from the city and about $100,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act.