Get Directions

Pitoniak Fields Conservation Area

Northwest Road
Westfield, MA 01085

Rating

This facility has not yet been rated.

Facilities

View all facilities

Pitoniak Fields Conservation Area

  1. 1 The bend at Northwest Road and a portion of the field at Pitoniak Fields Conservation Area.
  2. 2 The black birch stand can be found toward the back of the field, the upper right corner of the image here. Also visible are 3 red cedar trees of large calliper, a very rare find in Westfield.

Features

  1. Bird Watching
  2. Conservation
  3. Hiking
  4. Mass Audubon
  5. Parking
  6. Rivers and Streams
  7. Snow Shoeing
  8. Undeveloped Land
  9. Vernal Pools
  10. Wetlands
  11. Wildlife

Location: Across from 332 North West Road, at the 90° bend
Access: A small portion of the field at the 90° bend is routine mowed for visitors to park off the road 
Description: 70 acres of forested land with 3 acres of old farm field. The land contains steep terrain and cliff faces as it leads up to Westfield Mountain on Springfield Water and Sewer Commission's property. Noble Brook runs through the property, leading to Little River. 

Purpose: Protection of scenic resources, water quality, wildlife habitat, recreational resources, furtherance of government policy for the 2010 Westfield Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) and State OSRP.

History: The land was purchased in 2011 from John Pitoniak using Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds and thusly named after him. A Conservation Restriction was placed on the property in 2017 and held by Mass Audubon. The field was formerly 4 acres in size and used for haying, but due to regrowth of a black birch stand in the back, it is now only 3 acres in size. It is routinely mowed every 2-3 years to allow for nesting habitat for migratory bird species. In 2022 and 2024, Westfield State University students surveyed the plant species found in the field pre and post mowing and developed a vegetation management plan to be implemented by the city.

Permitted Use: Hiking (intentionally wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails), Research and Education, Bird Watching, Snow Shoeing, Wildlife Observation.

Prohibited Uses: Dumping, hunting or trapping, off-road or unauthorized vehicles, alcoholic beverages, camping, destruction of vegetation, fires, mountain biking, horseback riding, mining.

▲ Back to top