For immediate release                                               Contact:          Wendy Fox

November 28, 2007                                                                            617-626-1453

 

 

DCR OFFERS PARKS-RELATED HOLIDAY GIFTS

FOR THE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST OR CONSERVATIONIST

 

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is offering a selection of what could be the perfect gift for the nature lover, outdoor enthusiast, recreation buff, or golf fanatic on your holiday list. Consider the following:

 

  • The 2008 Massachusetts ParksPasses are now available for purchase.  A ParksPass provides unlimited day-use parking at the more than 50 DCR state park facilities that charge parking fees, and is valid January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008.  The ParksPass can be used at ocean beaches, swimming ponds, mountain summits, and historic sites as diverse as Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Hopkinton State Park, Walden Pond State Reservation in Concord, Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, and  Pittsfield State Forest in the Berkshires. 

 

A ParksPass is $35 for Massachusetts residents, and $45 for non-residents.  This represents a significant savings for frequent park visitors as parking fees range from $2 per car at historic and scenic sites to $5 at inland beaches and $7 at ocean beaches.  If  purchased as a gift, ParksPasses can be sent directly to the intended recipient, if  desired.  Note that orders for ParksPasses received after December 21st cannot be         guaranteed to arrive by December 25th.  To purchase a ParksPass by phone, call 617-626-4969.  For more information, including other purchasing methods, visit    www.mass.gov/dcr/parkspass.htm.

 

  • Gift certificates are also available for both of DCR’s public golf courses, the Ponkapoag Golf Course in Canton and the Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course in Weston.  Ponkapoag has two 18-hole courses and Martin Memorial has one 18-hole course. Both facilities open in early April, and both charge $17 to play 9 holes and $22-$25 to play 18 holes.  Gift certificates can be purchased in any amount. For Ponkapoag Golf Course (2167 Washington Street, Canton), call 781-828-4242.  For Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course (190 Park Road, Weston), call 781-894-4903, ext. 23.  For more information on the two DCR golf courses, visit www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/golf.htm.

 

  • For friends and family with a love of nature and a conservation ethic, consider making a donation in their name either to DCR’s Conservation Trust or Urban Parks Trust Fund. The trusts’ assets are used to enhance the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Commonwealth and support the Massachusetts environment in a direct and meaningful way.  Contributions are tax-deductible; can be earmarked for a favorite park, facility, or program; and can be made on behalf of an individual or organization.  For information, contact Sharon Hoey at 617-626-1267.           

                                                          

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The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, oversees 450,000 acres of parks and forests, beaches, trails, roadways, and bridges. Led by Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr., the agency’s mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr. Contact us at mass.parks@state.ma.us.