![]() ![]() The report says Massachusetts state and local government per capita spending on parks and recreation was the lowest in the country and only 58% of the national average in 2021.Īnd while DCR staff who take care of beaches “work hard,” the department “does not have sufficient staff or resources to do the job we expect them to do,” the report said. The Metropolitan Beaches Commission was created in 2006 to make findings and recommendations to state lawmakers and DCR on improving local beaches, including King’s, Nahant, Revere, Constitution, Winthrop, Pleasure Bay, M Street, Carson, Savin Hill and Malibu, Tenean, Wollaston, and Nantasket beaches ![]() “Now, as I finish my third week in this new role, I look forward to working with and learning from the perspectives of our visitors and partners like the Metropolitan Beaches Commission to ensure that our parks and beaches – especially our urban oases- are accessible to those of all abilities, incomes and language capabilities.”Ī DCR spokeswoman said the agency has not been provided the full report, but Arrigo “looks forward to delving into it.” The agency, the spokeswoman said, has also spent $200,000 purchasing new beach wheelchairs and mobi mats for all of DCR’s waterfronts. “I know from that experience that access to our open spaces builds healthy and happy families,” he said. Brendan Crighton, a co-chair of the commission, said it was not the aim of the report to be critical of DCR, but rather make clear the limitations it faces, including that its budget has been reduced by roughly 30% over the last 15 years.Ĭrighton said communication is “the biggest thing” he is hoping to see from DCR. “With six DCR commissioners in the past eight years, DCR has lacked leadership continuity, clear direction, and accountability at the top, with DCR commissioners too often making commitments that they may not be around to keep,” the report said.Ī group of state politicians and leaders at the advocacy organization said they are looking forward to working with newly-appointed DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo, the former mayor of Revere, to address “systemic problems and implement long-term solutions that they may not be around to solve.” ![]() Advocates for city beaches say the Department of Conservation and Recreation is “burdened” by a lack of leadership continuity, clear direction and accountability among top officials.Ī new report from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the Metropolitan Beaches Commission states the department does not have enough staff or resources to care for local beaches, and has a backlog of maintenance and postponed capital investments. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |