Adams Visitor Center

Parking, Drainage, Riverfront Park & Trail Enhancements / Adams, MA

The Town of Adams bills itself as the 'Gateway to the Berkshires', and its Town Visitors Center is a nexus for tourists coming into the region. The Ashwillticook Rail Trail, the main visitor parking lot, and a newly running Dinner Train are all based at the Visitors Center. The Visitors Center is also the gateway and anchor for the town's CBD with all pedestrian and vehicular roads connecting directly to this important hub.

After performing an on the ground survey, WDG conducted an existing conditions study of the Visitors Center parking area, including pavement, walkways, a 60" diameter drainage culvert, utilities, lighting, and streetscape elements. All these elements were enhanced in the new design, which expanded parking and introduced rain gardens to aid in stormwater management. WDG also designed enhancements to the park adjacent to the Visitors Center, including a naturalized stream that daylights from the (60") 75 year old culvert. Finally, WDG designed landmark art pieces to draw attention to the Visitors Center as the gateway to the Town, including a special roadway crossing for the bike trail. The project was completed in 2019.

Our company also worked collaboratively with the Town and the private owner of a very large adjacent Mill Building to find ways that the Town’s public sector project could stimulate the re-development of the dormant Mill complex. The synergy created by the multi-faceted public sector project worked as a perfect complement to the retail and residential directions of the large Mill Buildings.