SAM members and clubs are urged to attend and participate in the DCR’s Forest Futures Visioning Process which will outline the future of recreation opportunities on public land in MA (see schedule below). It’s important that the DCR is aware of the way you recreate in your community and that they include snowmobiling in the master plan.
For instance: My family and I have been snowmobiling on DCR public lands for many, many years and want to continue to enjoy our family recreation in the future. There are approximately 18,000 registered snowmobilers in Massachusetts who add over $65 million annually to the state’s economy. In a normal winter there are, conservatively speaking, almost 200,000 snowmobile visitors to DCR lands. SAM members volunteer thousands of hours each year to maintain and improve trails on state land for all to enjoy.
DCR PRESS RELEASE: Since the completion of the Forest Futures Visioning Process (FFVP) in April 2010, a process in which many of you actively participated, the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) has been working on the implementation of the core recommendations provided by the FFVP Technical Steering Committee.
The agens efforts are guided by Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowl endorsement of specific FFVP recommendations and articulation of a new direction for DCR forest policy
An Internal Working Group of DCR staff representing a wide range of expertise has developed a framework for designation of DCR State and Urban Parks property as Reserves, Parklands, and Woodlands, and developed a draft set of selection criteria and management guidelines. In November and December of 2010, a series of six public workshops are planned to solicit public input on the draft selection criteria for each of the three landscape designations that will be utilized in the process. DCR will also be seeking input on the draft management guidelines that are being developed for each of these three designations.
The public workshops are scheduled for:
Monday, November 15, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, Union Hall in Union Station, Worcester
Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
North Middle School, 350 Southampton Rd., Westfield
Thursday, November 18, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield
Monday, November 22, 2010, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
100 Cambridge St, Boston
Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Bristol County Agricultural High School, 135 Center St, Dighton
Thursday, December 2, 2010, 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
Essex Agricultural & Technical High School, 562 Maple St, Danvers
Monday, December 13, 2010, 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
Greenfield Community College, Downtown Center, 270 Main St, Greenfield
A second round of public meetings is planned for Spring 2011, at which time DCR will present the application of the selection criteria and the draft landscape designations for DCR State and Urban Park property for public review and input before finalizing the new system of land stewardship.
We encourage all stakeholders and the general public to participate, and to help us spread the word about these workshops. For more information on these workshops or the landscape designation process, please feel free to contact Jessica Rowcroft at either [email protected] or at 617-626-1380.
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