Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Nearly $190,000 in Grants to Support Inclusive and Accessible Outdoor Recreation

Inclusive and Accessible Family Fun Day  

The City of Taunton, in partnership with the Taunton Rotary Club, Taunton Public Schools, and non-profit partners will serve individuals with physical and mental disabilities to expand the accessibility of the outdoor recreational activities at the Family Fun Day event held at Camp Riverside. The organization will host an outdoor recreational experience including archery, horse riding, swimming and climbing can be shared alongside the community. 

Connecting Residents of Roxbury and Dorchester to Boston’s Waterfront for the Joy on the Water Kayaking Access Pass Program 

The American City Coalition (TACC) will utilize funding to support Waterways: Connecting Residents of Roxbury and Dorchester to Boston’s Waterfront for the Joy on the Water Kayaking Access Pass Program from January 1 to June 30, 2026. The program will reduce community-identified barriers (e.g., cost, familiarity, transportation, language) to accessing on-the-water activities and increase the benefits of living in a coastal city for 250 residents of Roxbury and Dorchester who are new to kayaking and have been historically excluded from outdoor recreation on Boston’s waterfront. This program will bring the waterfront to the neighborhood to engage the community through two open houses at the Shaw-Roxbury and Grove Hall Branch Boston Public Libraries and facilitates the cultivation of both individual and communal relationships with outdoor recreation through culturally affirmative information, resource sharing, and staff development. 

Inclusive Outdoor Skating and Community Ice Programs at Clapp Park 

The City of Pittsfield, in partnership with local foundations and community organizations, raised $250K for the purchase of a 100’ x 50’ refrigerated outdoor skating rink at Clapp Park. This project will create free, reliable, and inclusive access to outdoor winter recreation for residents of all ages and abilities, particularly low-income youth, families, and individuals with disabilities, through public skating, “Learn to Skate" and "Learn to Play” lessons, skating programs, and community events. This grant will be used specifically for year-long programming and equipment for the youth program. 

Ripple Effect: Family Water Safety & Access Initiative  

This program will engage 85 youth and caregivers through structured water education, including water-safety workshops, six-week swim lessons, and hands-on training with kayaks and paddleboards. Girls Inc. will partner with the Central Mass Regional Planning Commission to deliver the Youth Mappers program for Nature Youth Ambassadors, teaching them to identify, evaluate, and map local water recreation sites. Youth-generated data will inform the regional inventory of accessible outdoor spaces, supporting equity and environmental stewardship. The program will culminate in SummerFest at Camp Kinneywood, where families will participate in water equipment certification, try optional obstacle courses, explore mapped sites, and celebrate inclusive recreation. Long-term outcomes include a family water-equipment checkout system, increased water-safety knowledge, and broader awareness of local water recreation opportunities. 

Outdoor Recreation as Medicine  

The Outdoor Recreation as Medicine program is owned by the city of Malden, MA, but will be operated by First Seed Sown. This program will create the following: four 4-week outdoor recreation programs for people with disabilities, an anonymous online mental health outcome assessment, an advertising campaign to support program sign-ups, and a pipeline of potential participants from local community health centers. 

 
The 4 programs are: outdoor art, birding, hiking, and a multi-sport program (hiking, rock climbing, paddling) for people with mobility issues. The maximum capacity for this program is 48 participants who will select which four-week program to sign up for that will meet once per week.  
All necessary equipment, materials, and staff are provided at no cost to participants with all locations being accessible via public transportation and MBTA’s The Ride.  

Reduce Isolation by Inspiring Diverse New LGBTQ+ Leadership for Regular Outdoor Recreation  

The organization will expand on their successful two year collaboration with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Mass Audubon, Housatonic Valley Association, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Berkshire Outfitters, and True Wheels to produce series of 10 easy & accessible Pride hiking, biking, paddling, & eco-Walks designed to inspire diverse people & families in the Berkshire LGBTQ+ community to develop a regular recreation practices. This will result in year-round outdoor recreation activities by providing mentors, a website calendar, & promotion assistance to help community members in different parts of the Berkshires feel confident planning, promoting, & leading recreation activities for the LGBTQ+ community monthly. By offering diverse regular activities all over the Berkshires aimed at building community among isolated LGBTQ+ people Q-MOB, Inc will help participants develop healthy exercise habits, while broadening and deepening their connections with their queer neighbors. 

Well-being, Belonging and Empowerment in Nature  

Eagle Eye Institute proposes to partner with local land trusts and municipalities to create opportunities for Holyoke and Springfield residents to spend time hiking in the Pioneer Valley, forwarding their intention to foster well-being, belonging and empowerment for local youth and families through a relationship with nature. They will offer at least two Saturday events in Holyoke and two in Springfield in the winter/spring of 2026, as well as two school vacation trips and two afterschool field trips, for a total of eight event days. In all cases, Eagle Eye Institute will arrange transportation, lunch/snacks, and appropriate outdoor gear for participants. 

Ashmere Project’s Camp Chesterfield Working Weekend Retreats  

The Ashmere Project, a community of adults with and without disabilities, has recently acquired Camp Chesterfield, a 186-acre former Boy Scout reservation in Chesterfield, MA. As Ashmere leadership engages in significant work to refurbish the buildings and infrastructure and build full accessibility on property, members with disabilities will be actively involved and full participants in some of the efforts needed to accomplish that goal. A series of five working weekend retreats are planned in April, May and June of 2026 that will include community members with and without disabilities working together. The primary work focus will be on making existing trails and paths, and the beach area, accessible to all using adaptive equipment and tools, and developing creative strategies to involve the entire community in redesigning and working on trails. The community will also enjoy shared meals, evening campfires and singing, and swimming in Scout Pond when work is done. 

Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust Outdoor Day  

The Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust (PPLT), in partnership with Global Village Farms, Ridge Valley Stables, and Forest Nurse, will host a day-long outdoor recreation event in Grafton, Massachusetts for Indigenous families and families of color from underserved communities. The event will include horseback riding, forest therapy walks, traditional drumming, archery, fishing, and plant education, all rooted in Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. Designed to promote inclusivity, accessibility, and connection to nature, the event will introduce participants to outdoor activities in a safe, supportive, and culturally grounded environment. The program aims to foster healing, community, and a deeper relationship with the land, encouraging ongoing engagement with outdoor recreation. 

Inclusive Outdoor Exploration Program  

Everett Elementary School in Dorchester, MA proposes the Inclusive Outdoor Exploration Program, three one-day outdoor learning sessions that provide equitable, accessible, and engaging nature-based experiences for their 4th–6th grade students led by Guineafowl. The Elementary School will also offer two complementary experiences for smaller student groups, including an After School Hiking Club and a summer camp experience through Elevate Youth. We will serve 122 students in the outdoor learning sessions for grades 4-6, 10 students through the After School Hiking Club, and 12 students through the summer camp program.  

Webster Water Ski Collective Adaptive Ski Program  

In 2026, the Webster Water Ski Collective will expand their Adaptive Water Ski Program to deliver inclusive outdoor recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities across Massachusetts. As the state’s only adaptive water ski organization, they plan multiple events at lakes in Webster, Shrewsbury, East Brookfield, Holland, and Tyngsborough, along with weekly adaptive sessions at Glen Echo Lake in Charlton. These weekly sessions will provide a consistent training environment where participants can focus on skill development, independence, and continuous improvement with one-on-one support. Specialized adaptive equipment, access mats, and certified volunteers will ensure accessibility and safety. The organizations' goal is to serve over 120 participants of all ages and abilities, building strength, confidence, and coordination. In 2026, Webster Water Ski also aims to partner with host municipalities to invest in site improvements, ensuring accessibility benefits the broader community all summer long. 

The Great Malden Outdoors Community Programs  

TMGO is in year three of providing no cost and low-cost outdoor recreation programming within the Environmental Justice and Gateway City of Malden, MA. This campaign consists of four parts: awareness, a self-service outdoor recreation guide, programming, and youth development. For this application, TGMO is looking to fund three outdoor recreation programs: a middle school rock climbing program, an outdoor rock climbing community open house, and a birding tour series.  
Each program will be offered at public transit accessible locations in and around Malden through the Malden Recreation Department’s website. Two of these programs (middle school rock climbing and birding tours) will be offered at just $5 to encourage attendance but for anyone for whom any amount is a hardship, the classes will be free if requested. For the community climbing open house, that will be a free program offered on a first come, first serve basis.   

Orienteering Provides Outdoor and Inclusive Recreation for Everyone  

Navigation Games will expand its orienteering programs within greater Boston to bring people to outdoor spaces and teach map skills. They will hold two in-person events (in DCR /Boston Parks & Rec properties) and individualized follow-on support to train educators who work with populations that are historically under-represented in outdoor recreation, or that have physical, cognitive or social challenges that require special program design. 

Navigations Games Inc’s goal is that educators will be enabled to teach orienteering to their population in their local surroundings and in nearby recreation areas, or recreation areas that they can access given their transportation constraints. The organization will train educators to use a progression of fun activities involving exploration of a space, finding objects, drawing maps, and navigation to checkpoints shown on a map. 

Bus Transportation for NEBG’s Project Bloom and Barbara’s Bus Fund  

New England Botanic Garden is dedicated to making nature accessible to all through immersive, hands-on outdoor education. Two key initiatives, Barbara’s Bus and Project Bloom, remove financial barriers for underserved communities to experience the Garden. 
Project Bloom delivers free, nature-based STEAM workshops for youth ages 5–18 from under-resourced communities in Greater Worcester. Partnering with local organizations, the Garden offers workshops tailored to the participants’ interests, ranging from birding hikes to art in nature, which promote environmental literacy, creativity, and community connection. Together, these programs advance NEBG’s goal to make nature’s classroom open to all. 
The Barbara’s Bus Fund offsets transportation costs for schools from low-income communities, ensuring students, particularly from Title 1 schools, can access nature-based learning at the Garden. Since 2024, the fund has enabled 1,771 students to participate in onsite field trips. 

Gnome Surf's School's Out for Summer 2026 Happy Camp Season Kickoff 

With support from MOOR, Gnome Surf will host two Happy Camp season kickoff events, one at Horseneck Beach in Westport and a second at Nantasket Beach in Hull—bringing adaptive surf therapy, outdoor recreation, and radically inclusive community and wellness experiences to over 60 youth of all abilities, and their families. Each free family event combines adaptive surf lessons, beach games, sensory activities, music, art, and community connection, fostering confidence, joy, and a true sense of belonging through the transformative power of surfing and outdoor recreation. Funding will directly support adaptive surf, safety, and sensory equipment to accommodate athletes of all abilities, activity supplies, instructor expenses, refreshments for families, and event logistics to ensure equitable access to the outdoors for children with disabilities and their families. 

Biking in Nature for Seniors  

Research shows that adults 65+ spend less than 30 minutes outdoors each day due to mobility challenges, limited access, and transportation barriers, often leading to isolation and loneliness. Western Mass Wheelers works to change that by providing free, safe, and joyful bike rides for individuals who are unable to pedal on their own. The organization primarily serves seniors in assisted living communities and adult day programs. Using specially adapted tricycles, their bike rides take place on scenic, low-traffic routes that foster connection with nature and community. With this grant, they aim to expand to Chicopee Memorial State Park, offering guided daily rides on dedicated bike trails and unpaved, forested roads where participants can learn about local birds, wildlife, and native plants alongside volunteer pilots and naturalist guides, making outdoor recreation and nature connection accessible to all. 

Horseback Riding with Elevate Youth  

In partnership with Elevate Youth, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester (BGCD) proposes four horseback riding trips to Blazing Saddles Equestrian Center in Randolph, MA, in May and June 2026. Two of the trips will be geared towards BGCD members and their families, while the other two will be specifically designed for members with disabilities and their families. Each trip will accommodate 20 people, with a balance of kids and adults. The trip will last approximately 90 minutes, during which participants will engage in a variety of activities including horse safety, horse care, and a 30-minute trail ride. Professional staff from BGCD, Elevate Youth, and Blazing Saddles will guide and support participants through these activities. This accessible, inclusive outdoor adventure will provide participants with new recreational opportunities and nurture a love of nature that members do not typically get in Dorchester. 

Sensory Trail Outings 

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation will utilize funding for program supplies to host quarterly events along the Sensory Trail of the Mass Central Rail Trail in Sterling. These events are designed to introduce underserved audiences to outdoor sensory experiences, helping them feel comfortable enough to return on their own to experience the seasons. The goal is foster a better understanding and appreciation of natural resource stewardship and the importance of watershed protection. 

Raices Verdes 

Raíces Verdes (Green Roots) aims to bridge cultural and language barriers by empowering Latino-Spanish-speaking families in the Berkshires to become active participants in local conservation efforts, climate change awareness, and foster a deeper connection with their regional natural surroundings through outdoor activities.