February Blog, DCR to be Tested in 2020

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Chuck Anastas and Doug Pizzi | February 27, 2020 Sometimes, amid all of the disappointments of misplaced developments, destructive highway realignments, and park funding shortfalls, it’s hard to stay focused on the dream of expanding public access to conservation lands and recreational opportunities for everyone. Yet each day people are using our vast park system; hiking, biking, kayaking, rock climbing, playing catch or pick-up basketball, skating, even horseback riding. Every day, people take advantage of precisely what open spaces and parks offer to all of us. Our park system is a miracle born of vision and hard work by many people and organizations over centuries, and the fact that more than a decade of underfunding and outright neglect haven’t led directly to its demise is another miracle. So, the work to reverse this trend continues - our work. This year offers us the opportunity to make parks and DCR part of the public conversation again. You may have seen earlier posts in...
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Will the Appalachian Trail Stop an $8 Billion Pipeline?

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Opinion | Will Harlan | The New York Times | February 23, 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/23/opinion/appalachian-trail-pipeline.html BIG IVY, N.C. — I live in Appalachia, and on Sunday mornings I hike the Appalachian Trail across the mountains I call home. It is my church. I drink from its springs and rest in the shade of its ancient forests. For decades, the trail has been my refuge. I have run for miles through tunnels of rhododendron, crossed paths with bears and camped with my children beneath starry skies. A few years ago, however, the 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline broke ground, and crews began clear-cutting a scar across the mountains to move fracked natural gas from West Virginia to customers in Virginia and North Carolina. On my trail treks in Virginia, I watched the bulldozers creep closer. Then suddenly, on a crisp fall morning in 2018, the bulldozers stopped. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated a permit allowing the pipeline to cross the trail deep beneath...
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On The Right Tract

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Kathy Abbott, Boston Harbor Now | Architecture Boston | February 20, 2020 https://www.architects.org/stories/on-the-right-tract Boston is a city that prides itself on having parks before there were parks. Boston Common, set aside in 1634 to graze cows, is credited as “America’s first public park.” One hundred thirty-five years ago, the city was also home to America’s first playground, when Frederick Law Olmsted designed and developed the Emerald Necklace—envisioning 1,100 continuous acres connecting major parks from the Common to Franklin Park and eventually Boston Harbor, along rivers, streams, and parkways. Olmsted’s parks were built to address issues of the day: increasing urban density, public health, flooding. These historic parks still provide some of what’s needed today, but we are facing new challenges. What can we do now that will set a new standard of excellence for our parks for the next 135 years? In 2020, Boston is experiencing its most rapid population growth in nearly a century. Thanks to immigration, the populace is becoming increasingly...
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DCR Announces Family-Friendly School Vacation Programming

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Press Release | Department of Conservation and Recreation | February 14, 2020 https://www.mass.gov/news/dcr-announces-family-friendly-school-vacation-programming-0 BOSTON — The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) today announced that the agency will offer more than 90 family-friendly programs throughout the Massachusetts state parks system during the traditional February school vacation week. Programming starts on Saturday, February 15, 2020. Children and their families will have the opportunity to enjoy guided experiences or to create a park adventure on their own. The wide-ranging selection of programs include guided hikes, wildlife observation opportunities, crafting activities, games, stories, and more. A full list of activities and programming can be found on the DCR’s website.  “Winter is an excellent time for individuals and families to get outdoors and experience the programming DCR has to offer across the Commonwealth,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jim Montgomery. “The Baker-Polito Administration continues to increase both access within our state parks system and opportunities for the public to enjoy the many resources available to them.”In addition to the school vacation week programming, DCR will continue to offer its...
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Build a better city, starting with the Allston interchange

by Marina Jokic Comment Closed
By Robin Chase and Doug Foy, Updated February 18, 2020, 3:00 a.m. It’ll take a decade to fix some of Boston’s old highways. Let’s use that time to create a neighborhood truly suited for the 21st century. Boston has the opportunity to reclaim 30 acres of prime Charles River waterfront real estate, directly across from Cambridge. But somehow, the front-running proposal is to rebuild and expand 20th-century priorities — highways — with a 1950s vision of what makes for a good city (a car in every garage). We’re talking about the I-90 Allston interchange. You’ve definitely driven through it: acres of industrial detritus and 12 lanes of highway (eight elevated lanes of I-90 and four lanes of Soldiers Field road), spreading noise and pollution and increasing stress levels. Tens of thousands of Bostonians who live and work adjacent to these highways are cut off from one of Boston’s finest assets — the Charles River waterfront. It is time to envision the Allston Interchange...
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DCR Announces Family-Friendly School Vacation Programming

by Marina Jokic Comment Closed
BOSTON — The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) today announced that the agency will offer more than 90 family-friendly programs throughout the Massachusetts state parks system during the traditional February school vacation week. Programming starts on Saturday, February 15, 2020. Children and their families will have the opportunity to enjoy guided experiences or to create a park adventure on their own. The wide-ranging selection of programs include guided hikes, wildlife observation opportunities, crafting activities, games, stories, and more. A full list of activities and programming can be found on the DCR’s website.  “Winter is an excellent time for individuals and families to get outdoors and experience the programming DCR has to offer across the Commonwealth,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jim Montgomery. “The Baker-Polito Administration continues to increase both access within our state parks system and opportunities for the public to enjoy the many resources available to them.”In addition to the school vacation week programming, DCR will continue to offer its normal recreational and interpretive programing, as well as adaptive programming through the...
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Baker-Polito Administration Announces Energy and Environmental Appointments

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Press Release | Energy and Environmental Affairs | February 5, 2020 https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-energy-and-environmental-appointments BOSTON — Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides today announced several senior personnel appointments, naming Jim Montgomery as Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Patrick Woodcock as Commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources (DOER), and Shaun Santos as the Colonel of the Massachusetts Environmental Police. “Each of these appointments will allow the Baker-Polito Administration to continue building a clean energy future for Massachusetts residents while protecting and preserving the Commonwealth’s environment for future generations,” said EEA Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Jim and Patrick have been serving in their positions in acting roles, and their leadership over the past several months has made it clear that they are the best choice to advance the missions of their respective agencies. Drawing on years of experience, including his work on specialized units, Shaun possesses the qualifications and leadership skills that will give him the ability to effectively lead the...
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DCR Proposed Budget and Historic Parkways Transfer to DOT Are Troubling

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DCR Proposed Budget and Historic Parkways Transfer to DOT Are Troubling By Chuck Anastas and Doug Pizzi Daylight is slowly growing longer, and the end of January is near – which means it’s budget time on Beacon Hill. We would be remiss not to point out that Governor Baker’s proposed fiscal year 2021 budget for the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) leaves room for improvement. Last year, for the current budget, the governor proposed a roughly $2 million increase in the Parks and Recreation Operations Account, 2810-0100. Advocates, including MCV, asked for $6 million. Ultimately, the Legislature, in its wisdom, added $7 million, bumping the account up to $47 million. To his credit, Gov. Baker did not veto the larger appropriation. But even with that sizeable increase, the largest in recent memory and perhaps ever, that account has still not caught up with the cuts made during the Great Recession. So it’s a little disheartening that Gov. Baker is proposing...
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Op-Ed: Keep scenic parkways, bridges under DCR control

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Julie Crockford and Sylvia Salas | The Boston Globe | March 25, 2009 http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/03/25/keep_scenic_parkways_bridges_under_dcr_control/ Julie Crockford is executive director of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and Sylvia Salas is executive director of The Esplanade Association. PARK ADVOCACY groups across the Commonwealth support the goals of transportation reform coupled with new revenues that Governor Patrick and our legislative leaders are advancing on Beacon Hill. It takes political courage to act responsibly in the face of crisis and we praise their efforts. The public and the transportation agencies that serve us are facing crumbling infrastructure at a time when the state is losing revenues, and cuts in services loom large. Essential government reforms are needed quickly and the burden of generating new revenues must be shared equitably. Let's make sure, however, that we get real value from real reform. Included in the Senate transportation reform bill is a proposal to transfer the responsibility for historic parkways and bridges from the Department of Conservation and Recreation to the...
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The great dismantling of America’s national parks is under way

by Marina Jokic Comment Closed
Under this administration, nothing is sacred as we watch the nation’s crown jewels being re-cut for the rings of robber barons. For more than 100 years, professional management of our national parks has been respected under both Democratic and Republican administrations. Yes, they have different priorities, the Democrats often expanding the system and the Republicans historically focused on building facilities in the parks for expanding visitation. But the career public servants of the National Park Service (NPS), charged with stewarding America’s most important places, such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and the Statue of Liberty, were left to do their jobs. Even in the dark days of interior secretaries James Watt and Gail Norton, both former attorneys with the anti-environmental Mountain States Legal Foundation, the National Park Service (NPS) was generally left untouched, perhaps because they recognized that some institutions have too much public support or their mission too patriotic to be tossed under the proverbial bus. This time is different and...
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Hike Beautiful Billerica members learn about the life and legacy of Warren Henry Manning

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Mary Leach | Billerica Wicked Local | January 27, 2020 https://billerica.wickedlocal.com/news/20200127/hike-beautiful-billerica-members-learn-about-life-and-legacy-of-warren-henry-manning Hike Beautiful Billerica, an outdoor recreation group sponsored by the Billerica Recreation Department, explored the Warren Manning State Forest on Saturday, Jan. 25. The group, which is led by Marlies Henderson, enjoyed a special visit by Yaakov Trek Reef, a park interpreter, who added a new perspective to this Billerica park. The Warren Manning State Forest conservation land is owned by the Division of State Parks and Recreation and managed by the Billerica Recreation Department. The property includes 35 acres and 1.5 miles of public trails. The group also explored the nearby Billerica State Forest, which is a state-owned forest managed by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. It is available for public use and offers many opportunities for nature study and hiking trails. According to the town of Billerica’s website, Warren Henry Manning, 1860–1938, was an influential American landscape designer and a key figure in the formation of the American Society of Landscape Architects,...
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Who Controls Trump’s Environmental Policy?

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Lisa Friedman and Claire O’Neill | The New York Times | January 14, 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/01/14/climate/fossil-fuel-industry-environmental-policy.html A small number of people at a few federal agencies have vast power over the protection of American air and water. Under the Trump administration, the people appointed to those positions overwhelmingly used to work in the fossil fuel, chemical and agriculture industries. During their time in government they have been responsible for loosening or undoing nearly 100 environmental protections from pollution and pesticides, as well as weakening preservations of natural resources and efforts to curb planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Of 20 key officials across several agencies, 15 came from careers in the oil, gas, coal, chemical or agriculture industries, while another three hail from state governments that have spent years resisting environmental regulations. At least four have direct ties to organizations led by Charles G. and the late David H. Koch, who have spent millions of dollars to defeat climate change and clean energy measures. Gretchen Goldman, research director at the...
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City Signs Agreement To Strengthen Care For Downtown Parks

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Jayda Leder-Luis | Patch | January 13, 2020 https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/city-signs-agreement-strengthen-care-downtown-parks On January 10, 2020, Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the Friends of the Public Garden have signed a formal cooperation agreement to enhance the care of Boston Common, the Public Garden, and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), signed today (1/10/2020), strengthens the 50-year partnership between the Parks Department and the Friends at the strategic and operational level, committing to a shared objective of preserving, restoring, and caring for these historic parks in the heart of downtown. "Our parks and gardens are so important to our community: they hold our history, they bring people together, and they bring the beauty of nature into our City," said Mayor Walsh. "The Friends of the Public Garden put their heart and soul into these community spaces, and has been a partner to the City for a long time. I want to congratulate them on their 50 year anniversary, and...
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Ex-parks chief: NPS filled with ‘anti-public land sycophants’

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Rob Hotakainen | E&E News | January 10, 2020 https://www.eenews.net/stories/1062045073 Jonathan Jarvis, who headed the National Park Service for eight years under President Obama, said the agency now is loaded with "unconfirmed anti-public land sycophants" who want to dismantle the national parks. In an op-ed published in The Guardian today, Jarvis assailed the Trump administration for its management of the park system, saying "nothing is sacred as we watch the nation's crown jewels being recut for the rings of robber barons." Jarvis cited a long list of complaints, accusing the Trump administration of trying to double entrance fees, rescinding climate policies and moving veteran park superintendents to force their retirements. He also criticized the administration for leaving parks open during last year's partial government shutdown, misusing entry fees, opening park trails to e-bikes and considering a plan to privatize campgrounds, among other things. "These are not random actions," Jarvis said. "This is a systematic dismantling of a beloved institution, like pulling blocks from a Jenga tower, until it collapses." Jarvis is...
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Woerd Ave Dump Closer To Becoming ‘World Class’ Park

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Jenna Fisher | Patch | January 3, 2020 https://patch.com/massachusetts/waltham/woerd-ave-dump-closer-becoming-world-class-park For decades, almost 9 acres of land have sat largely overgrown and underutilized. But the old Woerd Avenue landfill, once used as a dumping ground for ashes leftover from heating furnaces, is a step closer to being turned into a public park. In the 1930s, the city set up a town dump next to Cram's Cove called the Woerd Avenue landfill. In 1971 with an estimated 35,000 tons of ashes dumped there annually, the city closed the landfill. You can see the former dump behind Koutoujian Playground, along Woerd Avenue and Cove Street near one of the city's most dense areas and in one of the lowest income neighborhoods. For years, residents and officials have eyed the land on the Southside as other old landfills around the country were transformed into parks. About three years ago, the city, led by Housing Division Programs Robert Waters, applied for a loan to transform the property. But as the city looked...
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