PATRICK ADMINISTRATION BREAKS GROUND ON IMPROVEMENTS TO WALDEN POND STATE RESERVATION

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION BREAKS GROUND ON IMPROVEMENTS TO WALDEN POND STATE RESERVATION

$8 million investment includes new visitor center powered by solar parking canopy and electric vehicle charging stations

CONCORD — Monday, December 8, 2014 — Governor Deval Patrick today joined state and local officials to break ground on a new visitor’s center, solar canopy and two electric vehicle charging stations at DCR’s Walden Pond State Reservation. The $8 million investment will support the Patrick Administration’s commitment to growing the Commonwealth’s renewable energy capacity, promoting the use of electric vehicles and improving recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

           

“As the birthplace of the conservation movement, Walden Pond is an important natural landmark for the Commonwealth and nation,” said Governor Patrick. “These improvements are about good stewardship for this generation and the next."

The new near net-zero energy Visitor Center will be a model of green technology, featuring sustainable building materials, a superinsulated building, high-efficiency windows and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.  The new building will feature interior and exterior exhibits, public bathrooms and larger meeting and administration space.  The project will also include pedestrian safety improvements and greater accessibility for people of all abilities.

“Under the leadership of Governor Patrick, Massachusetts is once again on the cutting edge of environmental protection and clean energy technology,” said Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “The construction of the new visitor center at Walden Pond highlights the Patrick Administration’s investment in our parks, open spaces and public resources.”

Since taking office, the Patrick Administration has made a historic investment of more than $350 million in land conservation focused on three goals: investing in urban parks, preserving working farms and forests and protecting large natural landscapes for habitat. This investment has resulted in the permanent protection of more than 125,000 acres of land and the renovation or creation of more than 210 parks. The new parks and open space created are within a 10 minute walk of 1.5 million residents – about a quarter of the Commonwealth’s residents.

The first phase of the Walden Pond improvements project includes the installation of utilities, a new septic system and the construction of a 100 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) parking lot canopy. The canopy will power the new Visitor Center and the rest of the park.

DCR has received a Department of Energy Resources (DOER) $50,000 Clean Energy Grants for the Solar PV Canopy and a $130,000 Zero Net Energy Building Grant for the visitor center.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will provide $6,800 in funding for the acquisition of two Level 2 dual-head charging stations as part of their Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP): Workplace Charging.

“DCR is committed to investing in our parks and facilities across the Commonwealth,” said DCR Commissioner Jack Murray. “The improvements to DCR’s Walden Pond will lower operational costs, be more energy efficient, all while creating a world-class visitor center that will be enjoyed by visitors from around the world..” 

“The new Walden Pond Visitor Center will be a shining example of the Patrick Administration’s commitment to constructing state of the art buildings reduce energy costs for decades, and support our environmental goals,” said DOER Commissioner Meg Lusardi.  “Zero net energy buildings are the next frontier and the Commonwealth is at the forefront of this incredibly exciting national movement.”

“This leading-by-example project perfectly integrates Massachusetts’ efforts on clean energy, green buildings and low-carbon transportation options, including electric vehicles,” said MassDEP Commissioner David W. Cash. “Visitors will see that the clean energy future is here.”