Defend

Parks and open space are essential to public health and social wellbeing, the environment, and climate resiliency.

OUR GOAL

Protecting Natural Spaces

The Massachusetts Constitution and state law protect public land set aside for conservation, parks, or recreation. Article 97, added to the constitution in 1972, and the Open Space Act (OSA), passed in 2022, set up a process to follow by any entity wishing to convert protected open space for another use, or cede control of these spaces to a different authority.

Massachusetts needed the OSA, which took 20 years to pass, because of frequent attempts to circumvent Article 97’s “no net loss” policy administered by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).

We joined this effort in 2018, and with our allies killed a bill attempting to take 80 acres of Leominster State Forest to expand the Fitchburg-Westminster Landfill. The bill, the last step in the conversion process, was filed without meeting any of the conditions mandated by the EEA policy, and now state law. All Article 97 conversion bills must pass the legislature by a two-thirds roll call vote.

*We took these actions as Mass Conservation Voters prior to forming Mass Parks for All in 2023.

Mass Parks For All Objective:

Inventory existing state green spaces and identify areas lacking public green and blue recreational opportunities and open spaces.

  • Connect with neighborhoods in areas identified as needing more open space to better understand their interests and to offer assistance where appropriate.

  • Provide data and assist with potential funding options to build capacity for neighborhood groups.

  • Support a program to reclaim public access to the Massachusetts coastline.