A 21st-Century Vision for Public Lands
Mount Greylock State Reservation, Lanesborough
Mass Parks for All (MPA) is a statewide non-partisan, non-profit 501(C)(3) organization with a 21st-century vision for protecting, renewing, expanding, and connecting our public lands.
As the largest landholder in the state, the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) stewards our state park system, with nearly a half-million acres under management.The agency maintains more than 150 parks, including 25 campgrounds, 81 salt and fresh water beaches, 24 pools, 175 hardscape courts, 80 playgrounds, 42 skating rinks, myriad historical and cultural resources, and nearly 200 miles of historic parkways, part of the first metropolitan park system in the United States. DCR also manages 315,000 acres of state forest land and 135,000 acres of watershed land around the Quabbin, Wachusett, and Sudbury reservoirs, and the Ware River Watershed.
The COVID-19 pandemic proved beyond doubt that these properties are essential to our collective mental and physical health.
They also contribute significantly to our efforts to mitigate climate change, foster climate resiliency, support the Commonwealth’s multi-billion-dollar annual outdoor economy, and provide clean, affordable drinking water to 2.7 million people.
DCR has a $1.0 billion deferred maintenance backlog.
Massachusetts now ranks 44th the nation in public spending on parks.
We want your help to change this.
Every person in the Commonwealth deserves adequately staffed, clean, safe, accessible, and well-maintained parks that provide recreational opportunities for all.
