Civic Engagement

Stop the devastation of the forests by logging!

DO NOT open up the state forests for motorized vehicle use. This will damage trails and plant life and the noise will be disruptive. Riders should organize and purchase private land for their use as is commonly done elsewhere.

As a resident of Sandwich, I have visited Shawme-Crowell State Forest almost daily for years. The rangers there work very hard, often beyond their regular hours. As an observer, Mass. is certainly getting its money's worth from these rangers. I strongly support increasing funds to the State Parks.

However, I vehemently disagree with those who would raise revenue by allowing more ORV and ATV access. I cannot imagine anything worse than allowing ORV's and ATV's in this park. Such activity would be an outright DESECRATION of this beautiful place. These parks have walking trails and camp sites. People go there to appreciate NATURE. If people want to ride through the park, let them pedal a bicycle and take ORV's and ATV's along with their gas fumes to one of the many state parks already designated for use by ORV and ATV enthusiasts.

There are few enough places to breathe clean air as it is. We do not need these vehicles with their contaminating noise and air ...

As you all know Build it and they will come. If you allow ATVers in there will be more money and needed help to maintain the parks.

Let our families back in on the sport you have black marked us on. We are not the criminals here...................

I feel that the budget problem for our state parks could be helped by opening up the lands to orv use. By opening them up you could tap into the orv clubs work force to help in the maintanance of the trail systems. They could also assist the state in the day to day running of the what would be the new rider freindly State Parks. By charging a fee for a day's riding the state would gain revenue to help pay the bills of the said park. Also by opening the parks to riding orv's you are adding an attraction for tourisim. By doing this the state would lower the cost of maintaining our parks and forests. Don't get me wrong I don't mean to say have orv's/ atv's running down all trails in the parks but their is a viable wat to make this work and it would also increase atv registrations @ $40.00 per registration and it would decrease the illeagle riding on the rest of the state freeing up the EPO's from chasing them down. It would also put honest eyes in the woods that would cut down on ...

I am concerned with both total funding now, and allocation following the Romney reorganization. For example, the SW Corridor Park in Boston had a budget line item until 2003. Since then funding has plunged over 1,000% until today a 4.7 mile park has just a couple staffers. Reform is only a good idea with thoughtful implementation.

Would say that I am in support of this measure. But first this department needs a Major overhaul with staff. To many directors? Is it true that when the MDC and DEM became DCR no managers were let go. Central Ma has 3 Regional directors, 3 Asst. regional directors.I am told that one runs the region and 2 of each run the watershed within the region. The issues with five rangers. One day I was fishing at the Quabbin and ran into four rangers?.

We get more for our money from the DCR park budget than any other area in the Commonwealth's budget. It is woefully underfunded.

Mr. Governor, I agree with the issue that DCR is underfunded. However DCR is as well as underfunded it is disfunctional. Case in point: DCR and Island Alliance are planning a new welcome center on Georges Island all the while Fort Warren has no funds planned for preservation. It is in serious state of deterioration. Building a new welcome center for a site that is in dire need of stabilization is like shinning the apple that the core is rotten. Yes DCR needs financial help but first certify that its operations and personnel are appropriate and qualified. Many decisions have been made that are not in the interest of the peoples property. We the citizens of Massachusetts are the land owners. As stewards of public property DCR must make positive proof it operates in the best interest of the people not the DCR. Thank you

Our urban state parks need to be reinvested in. If our urban youth don't grow to have a passion for our parks, we can't expect them to be advocates in later years.

I AGREE I ALSO THINK THEY SHOULD OPEN SOME PARKS BACK UP TO ATVs,THEY ALLOW DIRT BIKES AND HORSES,WE ALSO REGISTER OUR ATVs WHICH SUPPORTS THE PARKS AS WELL. ALONG WITH BEING SPORTSMAN WHICH ALL THE TAX $$$ GOES TO MASS WILDLIFE. IM SURE IF THE PARKS OPENED BACK UP FOR ATVs THEY WOULD PAY $$ FOR A RECREATIONAL STICKER THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO RIDE IN CERTAN PARKS, ALONG WITH VOLENTARY GROUPS TO KEEP THE TRAILS GROOMED AS WELL

There is a public safety aspect to this issue as well. This year I served as a volunteer for Mass Audubon monitoring nesting of endangered birds on State and privately owned conservation land in southeastern MA. I observed an extreme lack of control on the State property. While Audubon receives strong support for their efforts from DCR at an organizational level and I would give them high marks for effort, the lack of manpower negates much of this.

The lack of DCR rangers leads to a complete disregarded for important rules within the parks. In some cases, these are actually State and Federal laws which are being violated. At times, Audubon volunteers have tried to point out the rules, only to be disregarded or subjected to verbal abuse. On many other occasions volunteers, or citizens enjoying the parks, are forced to look the other way due to concerns over their personal safety.

When does lack of funding become negligence? Wouldn’t $10 million today to make the ...

I love going to state parks and camping, it is embarrassing and distressing to hear there are no rangers when you go there, and funding has been cut even further.

One alternative to funding the acquisition of land for open space or conservation purposes out of the State budget is the use of special assessments on adjacent real estate that benefits from the exisitence of open space or nearby concservation land. This has been used extensively in Claifornia and elswhere. The added benefit for some property owners is to prevent the development of open space. Fortunately, proposed legislation, the MORE Infrastructure Program-Chapter 40T (H. 159) would provide a framework whereby property owners could spread the cost over 35 years and borrow at low tax-exempt rates to reserve our environment.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED MORE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM- CHAPTER 40T

The proposed legislation (H. 159 and S. 146) provides a totally local option for municipalities acting on petition of property owners to establish a self-taxing mechanism to fund a wide array of public infrastructure such as roads, parks, water and sewer facilities. Last year some $15 billion ...

I support an increase in budget to protect our environment and wildlife, if in fact the money is used in a way that actually protects them, such as enforcing NO ORV (Off-road Vehicle) use in unauthorized areas. ORV use is NOT the answer to this issue - only a further problem! http://www.protectmassachusetts.com/

Unbelievable the equivocation of Patrick on this issue. Don't tell me to go to a rally. Be strong..do your job, and protect the future of our parks, please!

I would gladly be a regional volunteer to help out in the local Fitchburg state park. I'd pay a $30 full year permit fee for ATV/ORV use and I'm sure many others would. I pay this to fish so I cannot see why I wouldn't consider it paying for Access rights. We could work with the environment community to determine the types of days trails should be closed and have ORV clubs assist in creating trails designed specifically for ORV and ATV use so that saftey is not a concern for hikers and bikers.

Hunters and fisherman must purchase a $5.00 Wildland Stamp when renewing their annual license. These funds are used to purchase land for wildlife habitat. The Federal Pittman-Robertson Act collects an excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment purchases to support wildlife and aquire open land. These same lands are also open to hikers, birdwatchers, campers, and nature lovers, who enjoy these areas at no charge. In a state that can be so hostile towards hunters and legal firearms ownership, it's ironic to see so many enjoying nature that is supported through our funds.

I would be in favor of opening more state parksfor aTV riding. You could raise the price of licenses. and charge a daily fee for riding.

Maybe start allowing more orv/atv use in these parks. And charge for the use of the parks. I for one would not have any problem paying to have a place to "legally" ride and im sure a lot of riders feel the same way.

Congratulations, and thank you, for supporting the Environmental Bond. As a volunteer member of the Stow Open Space Committee, and an employee of The Trustees of Reservations, I know first-hand just how critical state funding is for protecting important landscapes and caring for those that have already been conserved.

One option is to open hunting in the state on Sundays. Believe it or not every fishing lure, box of ammo or gun has a tax on it and these monies go directly to lands for recreation purposes. If we open more hunting days in October and November we will increase revenue into the state.

Logging our state forests has increased lately and from what I understand the revenue generated goes into the general fund. Depending on the type of timber and volume this can typically amount to millions of dollars that could go back into supporting our state parks. It would be nice to see a breakdown of monies earned by logging and how much of it is returned to the renewable resources and its maintenance. At least we could get something in return for the mess that gets left behind...

Our parks are an amazing public trust that we have inherited from our forefathers (and mothers too!) At the rate we're going we will leave them to our kids a trashed shadow of their former selves. We must do better and pass this natural trust on in good shape.