Press Release  DCR, REI Co-op to Commemorate Landmark Anniversaries by Providing National Trails Day Volunteer Events at Five State Parks

BOSTON — BOSTON — To commemorate the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) 125 years of stewardship and the 80^th anniversary of REI Co-op’s founding, volunteer events have been coordinated at five of the Commonwealth’s state parks in honor of National Trails Day® on Saturday, June 2, 2018. National Trails Day® is a nationwide annual initiative that is coordinated by the American Hiking Society, and seeks to connect people with trails through volunteer efforts. Following the volunteer events, REI will also host a celebration of a shared lifetime of stewardship at 10:00AM on Sunday, June 3, 2018, at North Point Park in Cambridge, which is DCR’s newest metropolitan state park. This event is free and open to the public.

“Since coming into office, the Baker-Polito Administration has prioritized trail projects throughout the Massachusetts state parks system by overseeing the construction of new trails, by completing missing segments, and by rehabilitating trails in need of repair,” said DCR Commissioner Leo Roy. “In order to be effective managers of over 450,000 acres of forests, parks, beaches, and reservations, the Department of Conservation and Recreation works closely with invaluable partners like REI to share in the stewardship of the Commonwealth’s natural resources.”

“We are proud to partner with DCR in its 125th year, with public officials, private partners, non-profits and others to celebrate those who take care of our parks and trails. Every year, park staff and volunteers dedicate thousands of hours to protect and beautify the places we love, from Greylock to the Harbor to the Cape,” said Paul Gannon, REI Outdoor Programs and Experiences market manager for New England. “Together, we are joining forces to help ensure these incredible outdoor spaces will be around for future generations to enjoy.”

On June 3, 1893, the DCR acquired (then as the Metropolitan Parks Commission, the first regional parks commission in the country) Beaver Brook Reservation, becoming the first state park in Massachusetts. Now, 125 years later, the agency continues its long legacy of conservation protection efforts, while providing recreational opportunities for the public to enjoy in every region of the state. Additionally, REI was founded in 1938 by a group of 23 Seattle mountain climbers led by Lloyd and Mary Anderson. Today, REI is the nation’s largest consumer co-op, and is a growing community of more than 17 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and tips and outstanding customer service. With a passion for both the natural world and its exploration, REI continues to support environmental agencies like DCR, whose core mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the well-being of all.

The five state parks where volunteers can register to participate in National Trails Day® events include:

• Blue Hills Reservation in the Town of Canton – volunteers will clear debris and improve all access to Houghton’s Pond;
• Charles River Esplanade in the City of Boston – volunteers will remove litter and debris and perform gardening activities along the walking paths and bike trails;
• Great Brook Farm in the Town of Carlisle – volunteers will install trail intersection markers on wooden posts and walk the narrower trails to prune and clear debris
• Middlesex Fells Reservation in the Town of Stoneham – volunteers will hike into the easternmost section of the Fells toward Goodyear Avenue to create a more aesthetic and informative entrance, close illegal trails, re-blaze, update signage and install a trail map box; and,
• Wompatuck State Park in the Town of Hingham – volunteers will build a trail bridge over a wet area of an existing trail.

The celebration continues on Sunday, June 3, 2018, at North Point Park in Cambridge with an OptOutside Boston event. Join REI and local officials for free paddling and cycling tours, giveaways, and food trucks and local officials on hand to mark the occasion.  Register here to be updated on the latest details about the outdoor event.

The DCR manages over 4,000 miles of trails throughout the state parks system, offering outdoor recreational opportunities for people of all abilities to enjoy. Since 2015, under the Baker-Polito Administration, approximately 150 miles of new trails have been designed, planned, funded, and/or completed with trail rehabilitation and repair also becoming a major priority. Trails provide additional benefits to communities and regions, such as increasing recreational opportunities to incorporate a healthy, active lifestyle; strengthening regional and community bonds; increasing home property values; attracting additional tourists; providing alternative motor vehicle transportation opportunities; and supporting small businesses; while also increasing access to the natural world.

Volunteers interested in attending a National Trails Day® event to improve trails within the state parks system can register at REI. To learn more about trails within the state parks system, please visit DCR’s website.

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