Organizing to protect our world-class parks

An Environment Massachusetts-led coalition of over 30 environmental organizations, businesses and volunteer organizations from across the commonwealth is calling on state leaders to reinvest in our state parks, forests and reservations.

This year, the governor will be working with the Legislature to pass an environmental bond bill. This bill is an opportunity to authorize spending for a bond that our parks, forests and reservations need in order to regain their world-class status.

With our coalition partners and allies in the Legislature, including Sen. Edward Augustus (Worcester) and Rep. Michael Rush (Boston), the co-chairs of the Forests and Parks Caucus, we are working to ensure that the state revitalizes these crucial public resources by allocating at least $125 million a year over the next decade to bring our state parks, forests and reservations back to health.

Restoring our proud legacy

The first state in the nation to establish state parks, Massachusetts has had the foresight to set aside green space within our cities and many of our most beautiful wild areas to ensure that the commonwealth’s natural legacy would be preserved for future generations.

Massachusetts has the sixth largest park system in the country, with almost 1 million acres of public land, comprising hundreds of forests, parks, reservations and beaches. The Massachusetts forests and parks system supports dozens of rare species and critical natural communities, boasts exemplary old growth and champion tree sites, and annually attracts more than 30 million visitors.

These parks preserve the commonwealth’s natural legacy, provide families across Massachusetts with recreational opportunities, and attract visitors, supporting local businesses and our tourism industry.

Reversing years of neglect

Yet, despite our wealth of parks, forests and reservations, Massachusetts is in danger of squandering our natural legacy.

Decades of budget cuts have created a $1.2 billion backlog in needed maintenance projects in our parks, leading to closed or outdated visitor centers, trail closures, historic structures threatened by disrepair, the uncontrolled growth of invasive species and other problems. As a result, our parks are less safe and less enjoyable.

By failing to invest in our parks, we are short-changing one of the state’s greatest assets. Our parks can serve as the crown jewels of our communities, bring more visitors to the state, and keep top talent right here in the commonwealth.

“We cannot continue starving these public treasures,” said Environment Massachusetts Field Organizer Winston Vaughan. “Unless our state leaders act, we’ll see more closed parks and fewer recreational opportunities.”