Public Meeting Notice  DCR Strategic Readiness Initiative Public Listening Session 4/5/22

At this virtual public meeting, Acting Commissioner Stephanie Cooper will be joined by members of the DCR Stewardship Council to discuss the DCR Strategic Readiness Initiative, a Baker-Polito Administration effort to help ensure the DCR is poised to adapt to our changing world.  This summer DCR will begin its 20th year since being established in 2003. Through the pandemic, DCR properties experienced record-breaking levels of visitation which underscored the importance of universal access to nature and recreational opportunities. Climate change creates further strains on our state park systems infrastructure, including forests and coastal floodplains. As the largest landowner in the state, DCR’s assets will play a critical role in adapting to and mitigating numerous threats of climate change, and we must be ready. Guided by internal and external engagement, DCR will develop a set of core principles and priorities to fully realize the agency’s mission in the context of the 21st century. These principles will articulate how and why we carry out our mission, and why it matters. This process will incorporate and build off the recommendations in the DCR Special Commission Report. 

The DCR Special Commission report can be found on our website at this link.

The public will be invited to participate in small group discussions about DCR’s core principles and the priorities for the Commonwealth’s natural resources and recreation opportunities.  Due to space limitations, pre-registration is strongly recommended.  After the meeting, the presentation will be available for viewing at https://www.mass.gov/dcr/past-public-meetings. DCR encourages the public to share additional feedback, with a deadline for receipt of comments by DCR of April 12, 2022. Comments may be submitted via email to DCRStrategicReadiness@mass.gov or online at https://www.mass.gov/dcr-strategic-readiness-initiative or through an online survey also at https://www.mass.gov/dcr-strategic-readiness-initiative.