麻州政府撥款2700萬元資助59機構保留、改善2375英畝開放空間

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $27 Million for Conservation, Open Space, and Park Projects 

Funding Will Help 59 Grantees Develop Parks and Protect Conservation Areas 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced over $27.8 million in grant funding for park improvements and open space acquisitions across Massachusetts that will conserve 2,375 acres. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) awarded Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC), Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND), Conservation Partnership, Cranberry Bog Acquisition for Restoration, and Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants that will support 54 communities. The five grant programs will help municipalities and land trusts safeguard land for outdoor recreation, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and other purposes.   

EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper announced the awards at a meeting of the Resilient Lands Conservation Coalition. The coalition is a recently formed partnership between state agencies and nonprofit land conservation organizations in Massachusetts, co-convened by EEA and Mass Audubon.   

"Investing in parks and open space is critical for our state’s resilience against climate change, tackling issues like urban heat islands, flooding, sea level rise, and drought," said Governor Maura Healey. "These projects boost public health, drive tourism, and strengthen our economy. By aligning our grants with the Resilient Lands Initiative, we commit to creating sustainable communities and safeguarding our natural resources for future generations." 

"The Resilient Lands vision prioritizes the well-being of Massachusetts communities by focusing on land conservation. Projecting forests, farms, and soils creates healthier and safer spaces for residents, supports local agriculture, and strengthens community ties," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "The grants we are awarding today all play an important role in reaching that vision and empowering neighborhoods to thrive and flourish." 

The Resilient Lands Initiative aims to speed up land conservation in Massachusetts with a focus on climate resilience and environmental justice. It involves collaboration between government agencies and nonprofit land trusts to achieve the goal of conserving 30 percent of land statewide by 2030 and 40 percent by 2050.  

"Grants for parks and open spaces are a frontline defense against climate change. They cool our cities, purify our air, and protect biodiversity," said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "By investing in green spaces, we can strengthen our communities and promote a mindset of environmental responsibility."

"Grant funding of this magnitude can have an enormous impact on a local community, helping them reimagine and bring life to an area that may have previously gone neglected or unused," said State Senator Adam Gomez (D-Hampden). "With our cities and towns becoming increasingly congested, it’s important that we find areas to develop that offer new forms of recreation and relief while conserving the land for future generations."

"I am thrilled to see this $500,000 investment from the Healey Administration that will modernize and improve Polonia Park for families across Chelsea," said State Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Middlesex and Suffolk). "I am a proud supporter of the PARC Grant Program because it ensures that open spaces like Polonia Park get modern amenities such as new playground equipment, a fenced-in dog park, a shaded picnic area, green spaces, and more."

"Green spaces like Campagnone Common are vital for a city like Lawrence. This $500,000 PARC Grant investment will create a welcoming and visually appealing space where families, residents, and visitors can gather, play, and connect," said State Senator Pavel Payano (D-1^st Essex). "By enhancing public spaces for recreation and community, we’re not only fostering a healthier, more vibrant Lawrence but also contributing to our city’s economic vitality as more people come to enjoy everything Lawrence has to offer."

"This investment into Whitney Park will help to revitalize a gem in our community. Growing up in Ludlow, I had the opportunity to play high school football, little league baseball, as well as work as a summer camp counselor all at Whitney Park," said State Representative Aaron Saunders (D-7^th Hampden). "I know how important the park is to the town of Ludlow and the region as a whole. I am tremendously appreciative to the Healey administration for this grant." 

"Merrimac has a long-held objective of preserving its agricultural history and being a strong steward of its natural resources," said State Representative Dawne Shand (D-1^st Essex).  "This grant, which aligns nonprofit partners’ goals with ambitious state benchmarks for land conservation and climate resilience, will allow the Merrimac of tomorrow to retain what, for centuries, had made it a very special place." 

"This significant investment in conservation and open space projects demonstrates the state's commitment to preserving Massachusetts' natural beauty and building stronger, more sustainable communities. As a graduate of the Hurld Elementary School it is special to see this neighborhood project moving forward, " said State Representative Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn). "This grant funding will not only improve our local environments and enhance public health but also contribute to our communities' broader climate resilience goals. It's crucial that we continue to prioritize these types of projects that benefit both our communities and our environment."

"Mass Audubon has long shared the Commonwealth’s commitment to leadership in land conservation through initiatives such as our 30x30 Catalyst Fund," said Mass Audubon President David O’Neill. "We look forward to co-convening the Resilient Lands Conservation Coalition as a direct extension of this work, engaging with land trusts and municipalities across the state to tackle ambitious, strategic conservation projects together." 

The PARC Grant Program, which was established in 1977, supports cities and towns in their efforts to acquire and develop land for park and outdoor recreation purposes.  This program includes two categories of grants. The first category is the Small Town grant, designed for towns with less than 35,000 residents, and offers a maximum grant award of $100,000. The second category is for cities and towns with more than 35,000 residents and provides a maximum grant award of $500,000. The twenty-four projects receiving a total of $8.7 million are:  

MUNICIPALITY	PROJECT NAME	PROJECT DESCRIPTION	GRANT AWARD
Barre	High Plains Park	The project will construct a universally accessible playground	$100,000
Billerica	Ditson Park	The project will include the construction of a perimeter trail and pavilion and renovations to the existing basketball court and playground	$449,500
Boston	Ringer Playground	The project will include accessibility and pedestrian safety improvements to pathways and park entrances; a new dog play area and multipurpose natural grass field; renovations to the playground and splash pad; arborist work throughout the park; site drainage upgrades; and improvements to the existing pedestrian lighting	$500,000
Bridgewater	Summer Street Park	The project will transform an abandoned gas station property into an in-town urban park with covered areas for picnics, outdoor chess and other board game tables, and outdoor table tennis tables	$500,000
Chelsea	Polonia Park	The project will include modern playground equipment, a fenced-in dog park, shaded picnic area, splash pad, and green space	$500,000
Chicopee	Sarah Jane Park	The project will make improvements to soccer fields and baseball/softball diamonds, install irrigation to the baseball field, add spectator bleachers, install universally accessible playground equipment, replace the pedestrian loop and skatepark, and add picnic tables with pads	$500,000
Dudley	Richard Carmignani Sr. Park	The project will include the development of an active recreation playscape with ten unique areas of play and a pathway with interpretive signage, boulders for climbing, hammocks, and an elevated lookout platform	$496,650
Easton	Swift's Memorial Park	The project will include a memorial park with walking paths, commemorative granite walls, benches, seating areas, landscaping, interpretive signage, and new trees to augment the existing sparse tree canopy	$100,000
Hull	Jones Park	The project will repair an existing circular path and add a new park sign, playground equipment, gathering zone with café style seating, and fitness area with 1/2 basketball court and benches with shade trees	$100,000
Lawrence	Campagnone Common	The project will replace the circular gathering area anchored by a water feature providing residents with both a space for play and serve as a visual focal point	$500,000
Lowell	Jackson Street Pocket Park	The project will construct a new inclusive and resilient pocket park featuring a “play wall,” seating, dynamic landforms, resilient plantings and rain gardens, and a diverse tree canopy	$500,000
Ludlow	Whitney Park	The project will include installation of playground equipment with a picnic area, a basketball court and two pickleball/tennis courts; a parking lot; walkways, including a perimeter walking path; 75 shade trees, 19 ornamental trees, and 28 evergreens; and a pavilion/shade structure	$500,000
Malden	Devir Park Phase 2	The project will remove the baseball field and add a regulation women’s softball field, with new backstop, infield, player’s benches and accessible bleachers and the current soccer field will be regraded with improved drainage and a new irrigation system	$500,000
Medford	Riverside Plaza	The project will add permanent shade sails that can be removed off-season; a floating deck and accessible ramp to adjacent lawn with mature shade trees; mobile seating, tables, and lighting for the deck; and a drinking fountain/bottle filler	$198,853
Middleborough	Skate Park	The project will construct a skate park at Peirce Playground	$495,000
Monterey	Monterey Mills Interpretive Trail	The project will improve two town-owned properties, Bidwell Park and the Monterey Library, with interpretive signage	$3,317
New Bedford	Buttonwood North Trail Phase 1	The project will construct an ADA compliant paved walking path along Buttonwood Brook that will incorporate bioretention basins for stormwater management, invasive plant species removal and installation of native plantings	$500,000
Salem	Curtis Memorial Park	The project will renovate the existing play structures and playing field	$500,000
Springfield	Blunt Park Phase 2	The project will include an improved park entrance and parking lot, accessible walking track and outdoor fitness equipment, softball facilities, improved playing field, tree plantings, and landscaping improvements	$500,000
Taunton	Memorial Park Renovation	The project will renovate the trails, walkways and lighting throughout the park	$500,000
Townsend	Kids Country Playground	The project will construct an ADA accessible and inclusive family friendly playground	$100,000
Wareham	Lopes Field	The project will build a fully accessible playground by creating new paths to access the new accessible equipment and add a perimeter path	$100,000
Ware	Memorial Field Fieldhouse	The project will improve accessibility to the restrooms at the fieldhouse	$75,250
Woburn	Hurld Park	The project will include the construction of a universally accessible playground for toddler, elementary, and middle school children	$500,000

 

 The Conservation Partnership Grants provide funding to non-public, not-for-profit corporations to support their efforts in acquiring interests in lands suitable for conservation or recreation purposes. Projects receiving grants totaling $3.36 million are:  

APPLICANT	PROJECT NAME	PROJECT DESCRIPTION	GRANT AWARD
Kestrel Land Trust	Growing Green	The subject property lies along the south branch of the Manhan River, a tributary of the Connecticut River, and is directly abutting over 50 acres of protected land anchored by the Town of Southampton’s Whitemore Conservation Area and Pascommuck Conservation Trust’s Pomeroy Meadows Conservation Area	$300,000
Mass Audubon	Oxford Woodlands	This acquisition will create opportunities to expand the abutting Pierpoint Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary area trail network and ensure the permanent protection of biodiverse wildlife habitat, including high productivity vernal pools that can potentially host rare species such as the marbled salamander.	$272,250
Buzzards Bay Coalition	Snipatuit Pond Cedar Forest   Conservation	The primary goals of this project are 1) to protect the unique biodiversity and ecological resources associated with this land, 2) to protect important water resources associated with this land, the pond, the Mattapoisett River and its aquifer and watershed; 3) to provide public access for water- and wilderness-based recreational opportunities including hunting and fishing, and 4) to continue to build a large contiguous area of protected land	$130,000
Berkshire Community Land Trust	River Run Farm	Funding from this grant will acquire a 66.75-acre CR at River Run Farm. The remaining 12.25 acres is designated as a farmstead area and includes a farmhouse and large barn. The full 79 acres will be leased through a 98-year ground lease to Off-the-Shelf Farm to pasture their mobile, pasture-grazed chicken and egg operation.	$172,500
The Trustees of Reservations	Hale Conservation Project	This acquisition is part of the larger conservation initiative, the Hale Conservation Project—an initiative to permanently protect 1,000+ acres in Dover and Westwood, owned by Hale Education, Inc. The initiative will ensure continued public access to the subject property and much of the 1000+ acres of land in perpetuity.	$300,000
Essex County Greenbelt Association	Hoyt Farm	The project will project 84 acres that encompass spectacular farmland, wildlife habitat, and headwaters to the East Meadow River, a tributary to the Merrimack River and drinking water source for the City of Haverhill. It will allow public trail expansion from the adjacent Town Forest, while facilitating affordable farmland access.	$300,000
The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts	Upper Mill Pond Woodlands II	The acquisition is a 3.77-acre pine-oak forested parcel located near Upper Mill Pond in Brewster and are currently working with three other families to preserve several adjoining pine-oak forest parcels, potentially protecting 40+ acres of land.	$193,530
Westport Land Conservation Trust	Sodom Road Conservation Project	The project will preserve 149 acres and provide an expansive trail experience, protect key habitat in a large undisturbed corridor of land comprising several hundred acres, and provide long-term resiliency for the West Branch of the Westport River and Buzzards Bay.	$150,000
Buzzards Bay Coalition	Acushnet River Estuary	The primary goals of this project are 1) to protect the unique coastal ecological resources associated with this land, 2) protect wetland resources, upland buffer and coastal adaptation area associated with this land that contribute climate resilience to the salt marsh and estuary ecosystem, 3) to provide much needed public access to a coastal natural area for outdoor passive recreation in this densely developed estuary, and 4) to expand a growing green corridor along the river	$300,000
Orenda Wildlife Land Trust	Smiths Creek	The acquisition will help protect the habitat of a threatened vascular plant and tern foraging area, as well as drinking water supply.	$200,000
East Quabbin Land Trust	East Street CR Acquisition	The project will protect prime or state-wide important agricultural soils with 8.5 acres of hay fields that have been in agricultural for several centuries and also include cold water fisheries	$115,250
Greater Worcester Land Trust	45 Creeper Hill Road	The Creeper Hill Road site is a mix of river, wetland, and forested upland. The western edge of the property is the Quinsigamond River (a Blackstone River headwater) with both shores of the river to be in conservation.  Immediately to the east of the river is a belt of open wetland transitioning into forested wetland.	$30,350
Buzzards Bay Coalition	Nasketucket Bay - Trott Conservation Project	The primary goals of this project are to 1) protect important upland adjacent to existing coastal habitats/salt marsh thereby providing space for these coastal habitats to adapt and migrate as sea level rises; 2) protect the water quality and existing coastal/marine/aquatic biodiversity and habitats of Nasketucket Bay and Buzzards Bay; 3) provide compatible public access; and 4) expand the large area of existing protected land along the Sconticut Neck peninsula and Nasketucket Bay	$300,000
Barnstable Land Trust	Santuit Woodlands	The Santuit Woodland property is an undeveloped wooded lot consisting primarily of deciduous oak, cherry, maple, beech and occasional holly trees, with a few pitch pines and white pines scattered throughout the site and contains a recently certified vernal pool.	$295,000
Farming Falmouth	The Patch – Farm Retention Project	Farming Falmouth will purchase a 6-acre farmstead for the purpose of preserving farmland for agricultural activities and for open space conservation.	$300,000

 

Established in 1961, the LAND Grant Program assists municipal conservation commissions in acquiring land for the protection of natural resources and passive outdoor recreation purposes. Projects receiving grants totaling $3.4 million are: 

  

MUNICIPALITY	PROJECT NAME	PROJECT DESCRIPTION	GRANT AWARD
Acton	Preserving Acton's Agricultural Gateway	This purchase will conserve critical habitat, including sensitive wetlands, vernal pools, as well as provide flood protection along the Nashoba Brook.  The property expands a network of 315+ acres of adjacent protected land and abuts the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.  This acquisition will protect mature second-growth forests and historic features including a stone-lined natural spring.	$500,000
Ashburnham	Timberlost Farm Conservation Project	This working landscape is prominently located on Route 101 (Ashby Road) north of Ashburnham Town Center and is an irreplaceable part of the Town’s colonial history with its 1754 farmhouse, and an important member of the agricultural community.  The landscape is a significant feature of the Town’s rural and scenic character.  Conservation of this land will protect working farmland and forest as well as provide permanent public access to the Midstate Trail which traverses the property.	$500,000
Dunstable	Kennedy Conservation Restriction	The property abuts 37-acres of town owned conservation land and is a key parcel to protecting the Salmon Brook corridor for water quality, flood control, scenic value and recreational enjoyment as outlined in the Dunstable Open Space and Recreation Plan, as well as the Dunstable Town Master Plan.  The river provides for canoeing, kayaking and fishing and is an important source of aquifer recharge. This property is nearly entirely designated NHESP core habitat for Blanding’s turtle.	$406,870