Part of the Pioneer Valley, Chicopee is a diverse city adjacent to Springfield, Holyoke, South Hadley and Ludlow. It is connected to the region by I-91, I-90, the Amtrak Rail Line, and the PVTA bus system. Bisecting the City is the Chicopee River, which meets the Connecticut River in Chicopee’s West End just outside the downtown.

Chicopee is home to a variety of schools and recreational services. Currently, the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation manages 29 parks including Sarah Jane Sherman Park, Lincoln Grove, Lucy Wisniowski Memorial Park, and Ray Ash Memorial Park. Chicopee’s premier park is Frank J. Szot Park, which includes a stadium, baseball diamond, swimming pool, and various other sports and recreation facilities. Additionally, the City recently opened a new Senior Center in September 2014 to provide a variety of services, recreational and otherwise, to residents who are 55 years or older and their spouses.

Chicopee has both public and private schools, including 9 public elementary schools, 2 public middle schools, and 3 public high schools. In addition, Our Lady of the Elms College is located in Chicopee’s downtown. This liberal arts college is regionally ranked in the Top 25 Catholic Colleges in the North and provides education and research opportunities to approximately 1,355 students.

In addition to recreation and educational opportunities, Chicopee provides many shopping and transportation options. Memorial Drive is a main road and central location of retail and restaurant business shopping centers and is connected to the regional bus route. There is also a city-wide bike path underway to connect residential neighborhoods to Chicopee’s downtown.