Fair Ground Community Redevelopment Project

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL, CHARITABLE AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES TO SPECIFIC GROUPS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT SITE IN GREAT BARRINGTON MASS. SUCH SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION AREAS AND A CANOE LAUNCH PARK, SPACE INCLUDING TRAILS AND INDIGENOUS PLANTINGS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCIENTIFIC STUDY AND ON SITE SCHOOL GROUP VISITS, INTERNSHIPS AND EDUCATIONAL FORUMS AND ONGOING EXHIBITS AND LECTURES ON HISTORIC, CULTURAL, AGRICULTURAL, SCIENTIFIC, BOTANICAL AND OTHER THEMES. PROVIDING LAND,EXPERTISE AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SMALL SCALE FARMING AND AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING FARMERS' MARKETS, INTERNSHIPS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS GROWING PRODUCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING SCHOOLS. RIVER CLEAN UP ACTIVITIES. ENGAGING WITH OTHER NON PROFIT GROUPS IN BENEFICIAL PARTNERSHIPS. THE ORGANIZATION WILL MAINTAIN THE SITE AND ENSURE ITS USE IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT TO PRESERVE THE

DURING 2021 THE ORGANIZATION'S USUAL ACTIVTIES WERE SUSPENDED DUE TO THE COVID VIRUS. DESPITE THE LIMITATIONS POSED BY SAFETY CONCERNS WHICH RESULTED IN CANCELLATIONS AND POSTPONEMENTS OF GATHERINGS AND EVENTS ON SITE, WE WERE ABLE TO HOST TWO COVID SAFE EVENTS AND PROCEED WITH SOME ACTIVITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR MISSION. ONGOING MEETINGS AND VIRTUAL CONFERENCES WERE HELD TO CONTINUE PLANNING AND PREPARATIONS FOR TRANSITIONING BACK TO A MORE NORMAL STATE OF AFFAIRS. EVENTS WERE RESCHEDULED AS THE COMMUNITY POSTPONED ITS ACTIVITIES BUT THOSE THAT DID NOT REQUIRE LARGER GATHERING OR CLOSE CONTACT WERE CONTINUED. ONGOING REPAIR, MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION OF THE SITE CONTINUED WITH MOWING OF EVENT SPACES AND ACCESS AREAS, CONTINUAL REMOVAL OF NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES, BUILDING REPAIR AND STABILIZATION, EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. THE BOARD CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS TO RESEARCH CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES TO PERMANENTLY RESTRICT AGGRESSIVE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON SITE THROUGH THE USE OF LEGAL EASEMENTS AND OTHER POSSIBLE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.THE INITIAL PHASES OF AN EXCITING PARTNERSHIP WITH A FARMING INITIATIVE WHICH PROVIDES LAND ACCESS AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL DISPLACED IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY PEOPLE WAS SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATED AND THIS SPRING WILL BRING THE FIRST STEPS OF THAT INITIATIVE TO THE SITE.