Public Meeting Notice  DCR Project Shade – Fort Phoenix State Park (Fairhaven, MA) Public Meeting 5/6/2026

A Commonwealth climate adaptation initiative for extreme heat, DCR Project Shade is planting native tree canopy, installing shade structures and right-sizing pavements to make our parks cooler for visitors and staff. At this virtual public meeting, the project team will present the DCR Project Shade proposals for Fort Phoenix State Park, including alternatives for the parking lot layout at the east end of the park with a new shade pavilion, plantings and accessible paths. 

Climate projections for 2050 are for almost a month of high heat days—daily high temperatures above 90°F in Massachusetts—with a disproportionate impact on environmental justice populations, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases like asthma. DCR’s proposals to increase shade at Fort Phoenix will protect visitors as well as those who serve the public daily, including DCR’s rangers, interpretive leaders, and operations staff. 

The public will be invited to provide comments during the meeting, after the presentation, by unmuting their microphones, or the chat functionality that will be available through the virtual participation platform. After the meeting, the presentation will be available for viewing on DCR’s Past events for DCR Public Meetings Information web page. DCR encourages the public to share additional feedback, with a deadline for receipt of comments by DCR of May 20th, 2026. Comments may be submitted via the DCR public comment portal. Please note that the content of comments you submit to DCR, along with your name, town, and zip code, will be posted on DCR's website. Additional contact information required when commenting, notably email address, will only be used for outreach on future updates on the subject project or property.