Located in Northwestern corner of Massachusetts, North Adams is nestled in a valley created by two branches of the Hoosic River. North Adams historically has been a vibrant mill town, relying on the river and rail to power and transport goods during the industrial revolution. This early 1900’s infrastructure shaped the urban fabric of the City which is still legible today.

Today’s industry in North Adams relies heavily on arts and recreation tourism. The North Adams Western Gateway Heritage State Park is a hidden gem located in the heart of downtown North Adams. It is poised at the convergence of existing rail and water infrastructure. The existing park is roughly 1.6 acres. The very pieces of infrastructure connecting the City of North Adams to points beyond, severs the Western Gateway Park from the rest of the City. Originally, the park’s buildings were freight storage areas for the adjacent rail line and the interior of the park was paved. The old mill buildings of the 1900’s are serve as excellent arts studios and exhibition spaces. For example, MASSMoCA’s redevelopment of the old Sprague electric complex in the 1990’s has served as an attractor to the area for contemporary art. Through the museum’s residency program, exhibits, as well as the City of North Adams’s density of artist galleries and studio spaces, the area is seen as a “fertile crescent” of fresh and innovative art. Within a few miles of North Adam’s center, destinations include regional attractions such as hiking, cycling, whitewater kayaking, downhill biking, and zip lining.

Originally, the park’s buildings were freight storage areas for the adjacent rail line and the interior of the park was paved. In the 1980s’ the park was renovated to provide access for new adaptive uses‐‐ restaurants, businesses and nonprofits. These improvements had neared their end of life—surfaces were cracking, chipping, and failing. Within this regional context, the North Adams Western Gateway Heritage State Park is a hidden gem located in the heart of downtown North Adams. It is poised at the convergence of existing rail and water infrastructure. The existing park is roughly 1.6 acres and is long and narrow with two parking lots at either end. The very pieces of infrastructure connecting the City of North Adams to points beyond, severs the Western Gateway Park from the rest of the City. The Hoosic River Channel is as much as 50’ wide and 20’ deep and completely channelized with concrete. In a way it acts as a moat between the park and the rest of the City. Just inward of the channel, the active Pan Am railway adds another layer of separation. And thirdly, the State Street bypass bridge blocks views into the park from downtown while providing access into the park at the base of the bridge. A pedestrian bridge to north of the park crosses the railroad and links the park back to Route 2, Main Street, and MASSMoCA.

In 2014, The City of North Adams in partnership with a private entity sought to update the park and make it competitive to attract desired future uses. Given the rebranding of North Adams as an arts mecca in the last two decades, the City saw the improvements of the park in alignment with that goal. In partnership with the park improvements, the buildings within the park could be renovated to attract arts studios, cafes, and boutique shops. A stronger connection to MASSMoCA could be achieved in renovating an pedestrian bridge with access over Route 8a from the park. The park plan and design focused on enhancing connections with the park while siting locations for custom artwork sculptures. The City would commission the site improvements to the park, while the private entity would redevelop the adjacent buildings. MASSMoCA expressed interest in commissioning works of art for the park, and developed with Daniel Buren a design for a large installation as well as wayfinding markers to be placed in the park.

Planning for the future, the park’s connection to statewide resources could change significantly. Parallel efforts between the City of North Adams Office of Community Development and the State to repurpose old infrastructure, includes expanding the local leg of the Western New England Greenway as a shared use path running north-south through Berkshire County, and then east-west between North Adams and Williamstown, eventually becoming a East/ West trail across the state. Through meetings with a private entity and the City, it was determined that the interior of the park needed to provide delivery truck access from the south. Detailed studies by the design team were evaluated to ensure the extent of paving could accommodate the turning radii of a vehicle and path of travel. The park also needed to replace a failing retaining wall that flanked its southern entrance. This area also blocked views into the park from Route 8A and Furnace Bypass, the design team sought to “open up” and shave down the grades at this entrance to increase visibility into the park.

At the time of the design, MASSMoCA’s commission by Daniel Buren, The Exploding Cabin, needed a prominent home in the park. The team designated a location at the pivot point in the park where a visual connection from the pedestrian bridge from the north and a visual connection from the southern entrance terminate. This placement was strategic for helping move patrons through the park and strengthen the connection back to downtown and MASSMoCA.

The paving pattern itself pays homage to the former uses on site—the repetition and banding of the paving mimics the patterning of rail ties of a rail line. Within these bands, the curvilinear blocks of color abstract patterns of a river’s flow, referencing the course adjacent Hoosic River. Along this gently arching armature, curved concrete benches mimic river eddies and designate areas to “pull off” from the flow of the walkway to sit and read a book or engage in conversation with a friend. The paving works with existing drainage patterns on site its subtle transitions in grade are read gracefully by the gentle modulations in the paving bands. The southern entrance to the park was graded back and planted with evergreen plantings of varying colors and textures that will provide interest through the seasons. The result opens views into the park and is more welcoming to visitors entering the park from 8A. Existing cobblestones were gathered and reused on site as providing an elegant series of grass terraces and lawn, near the southern entrance.

Mirroring the hybrid nature of North Adam’s Arts culture—The Park inserts contemporary uses and works of art into a historic urban fabric. The patterning of the paving in Phase 1 expands the park’s usability for future tenants, while juxtaposing modern art against old rail buildings. The park is ready to receive boutique shops and artisan workshops as the market demands arise, as well as art installations in various spots within the park in cooperation with MASS MoCA.