PITTSFIELD — The city has unveiled a new, more affordable vision for reviving historic Wahconah Park.

The revised design, presented Tuesday at a Parks Commission meeting by representatives from S3 Design and the city’s project manager, Skanska, would roughly halve the cost of the long-discussed project, from its original $30 million price tag while retaining the goal of a year-round park intact.

“This has been an exercise, a tricky exercise,” said Jim McGrath, the city’s park, open space and natural resource program manager. “When the budget was reduced, the mayor came back and said … let's simply provide the best facility that we can for the best fan experience that we can in the safest, most modern type of facility, and get creative with how we address the rest of the needs.”

Wahconah Park’s future has been under review for several years since the park’s grandstand, which dates back to the 1950s, was deemed unsafe in 2022 and has been closed to spectators ever since. Temporary bleachers were used during the 2022 and 2023 Pittsfield Suns seasons, but the Futures League team opted to sit out the 2024 season due to the condition of the park.

The first phase of the project — demolition of the grandstand — was approved by the Pittsfield Conservation Commission in December and is scheduled to begin early this spring. The demolition process, which includes hazardous materials abatement, is estimated to cost about $875,000 and will be funded through a combination of city and federal dollars already secured.

Last month, the city and the Pittsfield Suns organization entered into an exclusive negotiation rights agreement, giving the team the first opportunity to pursue a license or lease agreement once the new facility is completed.

In 2024, the Wahconah Park Restoration Committee recommended a $28.4 million plan to transform the stadium into a multipurpose sports and events venue.

But with only about $18 million currently committed — including $15 million in city capital borrowing pledged by Mayor Peter Marchetti but still subject to City Council approval and $3 million in federal funding secured by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal — designers were tasked with creating a more compact plan that fit within the mayor’s budget.

Instead of a single, large structure, the revised design separates amenities into two smaller outbuildings elevated above the floodplain to meet accessibility and health code requirements. One building would house restrooms and utilities, while the other would include restrooms and concessions.

Pittsfield officials have unveiled a redesigned, $17.5 million plan to rebuild Wahconah Park. A rendering shows two separate outbuildings for restrooms, utilities and concessions, elevated above the floodplain to meet accessibility and health code requirements.

Separating the structures also supports the city’s long-term goal of making Wahconah Park a year-round destination, said Aaron Singer of Skanska.

“Having a separate building with concessions and bathrooms creates a space in between the grandstand where you may have other events that don't necessarily need the field,” he said, noting the potential for activities near the adjacent ice rink and surrounding areas.

The buildings are brick on three sides with metal paneling in front to give the historic look of “old style, kind of painted brick,” said Steve Fellmeth with S3 Design.

A rendering of the proposed grandstand at Wahconah Park shows a smaller footprint with a seating capacity of 1,100 and updated seating under the city’s revised design.

The new grandstand would have a slightly smaller and narrower footprint than the original structure, with seating for about 1,100 spectators and an additional 700 bleacher seats. Reducing capacity also helps control costs by limiting the number of required plumbing fixtures, said Steve Fellmeth with S3 Design.

The structure would sit slightly lower to the ground than the existing grandstand, while retaining the main tunnel that runs through the center of the park after it’s brought up to code to meet ADA requirements. The design also includes a central entrance gate with a security checkpoint and an ADA lift providing access to the press box.

Designers said they are continuing to explore ways to incorporate Wahconah Park’s history into the final plans.

To further reduce costs, the revised proposal eliminates permanent locker rooms and offices included in the earlier design. The project team said they will look into whether temporary locker rooms could be installed in the future, potentially along the third-base line.

Bid documents for construction of the new grandstand are expected to be released this spring, with work slated to begin by July and continue for about a year for a hopeful 2027 opening.

While the larger project moves through the design and bidding process, park visitors will see other improvements much sooner. A temporary 100-by-50-foot ice rink is planned near Wahconah Street, with installation expected to begin as soon as the vendor can mobilize. McGrath said the rink is intended to be operational by Feb. 1.