Page 8 - BusinessWest May 11, 2026

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT >>
Southwick Thrives as a Recreational Community
BY GEORGE O’BRIEN
[email protected]
South) which offer boating, fishing, swimming, and lakeside
dining, and also at several parks, the Wick, and two golf
courses (there used to be three), including The Ranch Golf
Club.
“You need to have a passion for it. If you
handle it properly, you’ll pay the bills
and make a few bucks. But you’re never
going to retire in the Bahamas and drive a
Lamborghini.”
They called it the Woods O’Cross.
That’s the name that was affixed to a recent event
Southwick
at a Glance
at Motocross 338 in Southwick, a.k.a. ‘the Wick.’ And
as that name suggests, it’s a race that takes participants
onto the vaunted track behind American Legion Post 338 on
Powdermill Road, and also into the woods nearby.
Year Incorporated: 1770
“It was really well received; we were amazed at how
many people came out for it; the feedback was phenomenal,
Population: 9,232
so we’re going to another one this month and another at the
Area: 31.7 square miles
end of the year,” said Rick Johnson, who, with his son, Keith,
County: Hampden
is now coordinating events at the Wick, which has, for most
of the past 50 years, been a destination as well as a driving
Residential Tax Rate: $14.42
force, literally and figuratively, in the local economy.
Commercial Tax Rate: $14.42
The venue now hosts more than 40 events each year,
Median Household Income: $52,296
capped by the Nationals, the three-day event that has
become a tradition in Southwick, with dates that are circled
Family Household Income: $64,456
by many business owners in town because the population
Now celebrating its 25th year, the Ranch, on Sunnyside
Type of Government: Open Town
of people in town swells from roughly 9,000 people to more
Road, is a higher-end course that was designed to be a desti-
Meeting; Select Board
than 30,000.
nation layout that would draw players from across the state
Largest Employers: Big Y; Whalley
The nationals will be in July this year, said Johnson add-
and beyond, and a sought-after venue for weddings and other
Computer Associates; Southwick
ing that, because Southwick doesn’t have any hotels, attend-
events.
Regional School District
ees must stay in surrounding communities. But many other
types of businesses in town see and feel the surge, he said.
*Latest information available
The Wick is one of many recreation and hospitality-relat-
ed businesses that give Southwick its unique flavor. People
You’ve got News We make it Known
And it has become just that, said Nick Tamburini, the
Ranch’s general manager and former golf professional. He
told BusinessWest that the club has enjoyed a solid run on
both sides of the ledger, with golf continuing to ride a COV-
come here to eat — there are many restaurants and institu-
ID-induced wave of new interest and renewed interest, and
tions such as Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts in town — and to play.
events bouncing back from the turmoil prompted by COVID.
They do so at the Congamond Lakes (North, Middle, and
On the golf side, the course, among the best and most
public relations
noun, often attributive
: the business of inducing the public
to have understanding for and
goodwill toward a person, firm,
or institution; also: the degree of
understanding and goodwill achieved
The “What”
is easy.
The “How”
is hard.
1500 Main Street, 24th Fl. Springfield, MA 01115 gcaionline.com
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MAY 11, 2026
Business W est