The Commonwealth of Massachusetts manages more than 450,000 acres of parks and open land throughout the state, from the Boston Harbor Islands to Pittsfield State Forest in the Berkshires. But many of these assets are suffering from neglect and understaffing that, in some cases, have led to visible decay and even environmental damage.

Consider this:

• The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Fish and Game have had their budgets cut by more than 30% since 2001.


• Last in the United States in state and local spending on on park and recreation as % of personal income. 48th in per capita spending.


• Only 5 Rangers outside of metro Boston to patrol 320,000 acres.


• Half of Massachusetts state park campgrounds are unstaffed over night.


• A state forest of 10,000 acres with a swimming beach, hundreds of campsites, and over half a million visitors per year has only two full-time employees.


• Spending on the maintenance of buildings, infrastructure, and landscapes within state parkland has been deferred until there is now an estimated $1.2 billion backlog of major capital repairs.
• When ex-Massachusetts residents were asked what they missed most about Massachusetts, 25 percent of those polled said family, while 22 percent said the state's natural surroundings. Eight percent said they missed cultural outings to museums and theaters, and 8 percent said they missed Boston

The Conservation and Recreation Campaign is working to stop the deterioration of these publicly owned lands and to make sure that the people of Massachusetts - including our children - can enjoy an adequately maintained network of state parks and forests. Our mission is to educate the governor and legislature of Massachusetts of the need for aggressive action to maximize the environmental, recreational, and economic benefits of the state's park and conservation lands.