You can make a difference THIS WEEK by contacting your legislators to urge them to include the Department of Conservation and Recreation in their priorities that they present to leadership.

See sample letter below.

Background

The DCR is the agency that manages the Blue Hills – and over 140 parks statewide!  DCR’s overall budget is 21% lower than it was in FY2008 and staff levels are 30% lower.  You can imagine what that means for the historic buildings in the Blue Hills and rangers ability to respond to visitor and park needs.  While the Friends of the Blue Hills recruits and manages hundreds of volunteers to maintain trails and keep the forests healthy, the DCR needs to have adequate resources to maintain buildings, run the beaches keep visitors safe – and much more.

The Friends of the Blue Hills is working in collaboration with a wide range of environmental nonprofits to provide adequate funding for environmental programs.  Increased funding for DCR is part of the recommendations for DCR is part of the Green Budget published by the Environmental League of MA, which was endorsed by over 45 organizations.

Please write your legislators today.  Tell them how much the Blue Hills means to you and ask them to recommend the DCR – State Parks and Recreation (2810-0100) in their priorities when they meet with leadership.

Try to personalize your letter.  For example – tell them how you walk weekly in the Ponkapoag section of the Blue Hills….  Legislators notice!

If you don’t know your representative or senator, you can look them up here.  We’re lucky that legislators who represent the Blue Hills really do care about the park and are very supportive of the DCR. If you are represented by Reps Bruce Ayers, Walter Timilty and William Galvin or Sen Brian Joyce, please thank them for their advocacy on the Blue Hills when you contact them.

Sample Letter

Dear   :

Thank you for your support of the DCR and the Blue Hills.  I would like to urge you to include the DCR when you craft your budget priorities when meeting with leadership.

As a member of the Friends of the Blue Hills and someone who loves the Blue Hills, I’m particularly concerned with the Department of Conservation and Recreation budget.  While the Friends of the Blue Hills volunteers devote over 1,700 hours each year to maintaining the Blue Hills, volunteer support will only go so far.  DCR Ranger positions – which have been cut throughout the state – are essential for making sure visitors are safe and the park’s natural resources are protected.

DCR’s overall budget is 21% lower than it was in FY2008 and staff levels are 30% lower.  I’ve seen the impact in the Blue Hills.  I [walk/bike/visit] the Blue Hills and have noticed…. Let them know what you’ve seen!  Fewer rangers?  Falling down historic structures – like the stables in front of Blue Hills Headquarters?]

I support the Friends of the Blue Hills and its collaboration with wide range of environmental nonprofits that work to provide adequate funding for environmental programs, as outlined in the Green Budget.  The Green Budget was published by the Environmental League of MA and was endorsed by over 45 organizations.

Please consider recommending the DCR – State Parks and Recreation (2810-0100) in your budget priorities.  I understand that a $11M increase – as the Green Budget recommends for this line-item – would be ideal and would provide DCR $53,748,330 in funding and bring them close to FY2009 levels.  However, even a minimum increase of $3M over the FY14 amount for this line-item would be a good step in the right direction and would enable DCR to hire 60 employees and staff properties that have gone unstaffed in recent years.

Thank you for your support of the DCR and the Blue Hills.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this issue.

Sincerely,

Your name
Your town