AMHERST — Amherst residents are proposing an all-wheels skatepark be built at a town recreational site, such as Community Field.
The All-Wheels Amherst Group is seeking $101,200 in Community Preservation Act funding for the first phase of designing the facility, which could be placed near War Memorial Pool, across Mattoon Street from Amherst Regional High School.
Aubrey Tennant, who is spearheading the initiative, said the group is advocating for anyone interested in wheeled activity, noting the town has no skate park, no BMX course and no pump track.
“We feel that right now this group of alternate recreation is underrepresented in Amherst,” Tennant told the Amherst Recreation Commission at a recent meeting.
The concept is to have the skate park possibly go up around a single basketball court.
“It would be a pretty large demand for this,” Tennant said. The options for those on skateboards and similar wheels are the buildings on the University of Massachusetts campus. Tennant said a student recently wrote a master’s thesis on a skate park can be integrated into the built landscape there.
Community engagement, permitting review and design development would get the facility shovel ready by 2027. But it would be another $450,000 to $500,000 to build out.
Tennant said the concept would improve on the bowl in Northampton, which isn’t quite as accessible to all and is also hidden, leading to it being covered in graffiti.
“The more skate parks are visible to more of the public the better they’re kept, the less graffiti they have, the more they are self-maintained,” Tennant said.
Assistant Department of Public Works Superintendent Amy Rusiecki said there is evidence of interest with some of the North Common walls being used by skateboarders. “A surprising byproduct of that project,” Rusiecki said.
Chilly Challenge
The Center for Women & Community, formerly Everywoman’s Center, at the University of Massachusetts, is holding its annual Chilly Challenge fundraiser at Puffer’s Pond in North Amherst Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Started in 2021, the event brings the community together while raising awareness and supporting services provided to those impacted by violence. This includes sexual assault support, advocacy and prevention services in Hampshire County.
The CWC was established in 1972 and provides more than 3,000 support sessions annually, including the 24/7 Sexual Assault Support & Advocacy Hotline, counseling sessions, support groups and medical, legal and campus advocacies to people
impacted by violence.
Organizers hope to attract at least 200 participants, or almost double the 110 who were part of it last year. With business sponsors, they raised $4,000 in 2024. Warm chili, cider and desserts will be provided by UMass Dining.
For more details, go to https://www.umass.edu/student-life/cwc-chilly-challenge-2025.
Amherst BID Annual Meeting
The Amherst Business Improvement District is holding its Annual Meeting of the Stakeholders & Luncheon Nov. 20.
Beginning at 11 a.m. at the Inn on Boltwood, the luncheon will have a speaking program made up of Amherst College President Michael A. Elliott, Aaron Vega, president and CEO of the WesternMass Economic Development Council and BID Executive Director John Page.
Hadley tax work-off program
Income-eligible senior citizens and five veterans can earn up to $1,000 in property tax abatements as part of a program in which they do work for town departments.
The Senior Tax Work-Off Program is open to Hadley residents age 60 and older who own property in and pay real estate taxes to the town. Income limits are based on 60% of the 2023 state median income. The Veteran Tax Work-Off Program is open to Hadley veterans, regardless of income.
Participants must complete 67 hours of service between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31 to get the full credit.
Applications and guidelines are available at https://www.hadleyma.org/select-board/pages/tax-work-programs-seniors-and-veterans
For more information, contact Katherine Abe at 413-587-4023, ext. 8.
Genocide and war crimes
UMass Divest Coalition is contending that the UMass Foundation is making the campuses complicit in violating international human rights law by continuing to invest much of its
$1.5 billion endowment in corporations and banks profiting off genocide of Palestine.
The coalition, made up of faculty, staff and students from across the UMass system, points to statements made by UMass that its mission is to “conduct groundbreaking research that improves our world,” and to “create social and economic impact that shapes and energizes communities.”
“We are aghast and ashamed that university investments directly sabotage this mission and betray these promises,” a statement reads. “Genocide does not improve the world; war crimes do not energize communities.”
The coalition is demanding UMass divest holdings from Israel and a democratic investment and budgeting process be unveiled for the UMass community.
Meetings
MONDAY: Amherst School Committee, 5 p.m., feedback session on revised elementary school boundaries; Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall, with budget hearing with Finance Committee at 7 p.m.
TUESDAY: Amherst School Committee, 6:30 p.m., high school library.
WEDNESDAY: Planning Board, 6:30 p.m., hearings on zoning amendments.
THURSDAY: Community Resources Committee, 3 p.m.
FRIDAY: Residents Advisory Committee, 2 p.m.