Trail advocates, state and local government agencies and boards, and environmental companies make MassTrails Conference a success
MassTrails award celebrating Executive Director Craig Della Penna with Norwottuck Network, for his lifetime of work that includes the Mass Central Rail Trail. Photo credit: Mass Parks for All.
On Oct. 26, some 250 people filed into Worcester’s DCU Center for the 2024 MassTrails Conference, held every other year, for a day of networking, learning, and sharing best practices around all things trails.
Mass Parks for All had a table in the exhibitors hall, where we promoted our mission to expand, renew and connect our state parks, and act as a resource for park friends groups and other stakeholders to organize and build advocacy networks in support of our public open spaces.
Sponsored by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board, and HubLuv, the day featured more than 15 break-out sessions.
Topics included bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to non-profit organizations, and why that is important to engage and retain volunteers. Rachel Haley, founder of DEI Outdoors, gave the welcome address and led an afternoon breakout session on this topic. DEI Outdoors offers, among other things, trainings for organizations that want to bring DEI principles to their membership and missions.
The DCR Stewardship Council gave a presentation on its oversight and advisory role with DCR, while MassGIS talked about how the agency is using geographic information system mapping tools to create an interactive map of all Massachusetts parks and trails. Other sessions included using greenways as a tool to promote environmental justice, Worcester area trails, and navigating wetland rules where trails are concerned.
The conference also recognized Craig Della Penna, chair of the Mass Central Rail Trail Coalition, for his decades of advocacy to finish the 104-mile rail trail from Boston to Northampton, with the 2024 MassTrails Award.
Following that, Galen Mook, executive director of MassBike, led a question and answer session with a panel of lawmakers, U.S. Rep. James McGovern, state Sen. Jo Comerford, and state Rep. David LeBoeuf. The session centered on the important role trails and other public open spaces play in our lives, and the role federal and state government plays in funding them.
The application period for DCR Trails Grants is open
Do you have a trail your community or park friends group maintains that needs some TLC, or a trail your organization wants to build? If so, the MassTrails Grants program is for you.
The application process for 2025 MassTrails grants is open and the deadline to apply is February 3, 2025. Applicants can apply online.
Grants range between $100,000 and $500,000, and successful applicants must provide at least a 20 percent match. These grants are reimbursement grants, which means the work must take place and be paid for, before being reimbursed by the Commonwealth.
Projects can include improvements to recreational trail and shared-use pathways. Eligible activities include project development, design, engineering, permitting, construction, and maintenance of recreational trails, shared-use pathways, and the amenities that support trails.
Last year the program awarded $12 million in support of 65 projects across the state. So, if your organization has a trail project near and dear to its heart, now is the time to apply.
Doug Pizzi is executive director of Mass Parks for All