For Immediate Release Contact: Wendy Fox

April 4, 2007 617-626-1453

STATE TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ON

HERITAGE LANDSCAPE INVENTORY PROGRAM

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will hold a series of public meetings to kick off a survey of heritage landscapes in the DCR parks and forests of south-central Massachusetts, as part of the Heritage Landscape Inventory (HLI) program. A full schedule of meetings is attached.

The HLI program seeks to identify and document those heritage landscapes of Massachusetts that are vital to the history, character and quality of life of our communities. These landscapes contain both natural and cultural resources, and help convey the history and the character of our parks. Examples of heritage landscapes include Civilian Conservation Corps camps, historic recreational areas and designed gardens.

DCR has brought the HLI program to more than 80 communities across the Commonwealth. This success has prompted DCR to launch a pilot application of the HLI process within the Massachusetts state parks system, providing an opportunity for staff, friends groups, nonprofit partners and regular park users to identify those landscapes that make their favorite parks unique and important. Through this project, DCR plans to improve documentation of the many different types of cultural resources found throughout the parks system, in order to help plan for their preservation and to identify potential partnership projects.

All are welcome to attend.

For more information about these meetings, please contact DCR Preservation Planner Jessica Rowcroft at 617-626-1380. Further information about this program can also be found at: www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/histland/histland.htm.

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Location	Meeting date and time
Quinsigamond State Park	Tuesday, April 10, 2007 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Douglas State Forest	Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Wells State Park/Streeter Point Recreation Area	Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Brimfield State Forest	Thursday, April 19, 2007
Spencer State Forest	Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park	Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Upton State Forest	Thursday, May 3, 2007
Sutton State Forest,  Purgatory Chasm State Reservation	Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Oakham State Forest, Rutland State Park	Thursday, May 10, 2007
Moore State Park	Tuesday, May 15, 2007
North Brookfield State Forest, West Brookfield State Forest	Thursday, May 17, 2007
Leominster State Forest	TBA
Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m

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