image description
Mount Greylock will be included in a series of hikes on Aug. 24 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

Centennial Hikes Across Massachusetts Celebrate 100th Anniversary of National Park Service

Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Department of Conservation and Recreation will lead park visitors on free "Centennial Hikes" at 12 parks across Massachusetts, including two in the Berkshires, on Thursday, Aug. 25, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

The DCR-managed parks are part of the cherished and historic legacy of America’s state and national parks system, and serve as excellent examples of land conservation efforts that have been made across the country.

"I cannot think of a better way to celebrate 100 years of the National Park Service and their efforts of preserving this country’s natural resources, than going on a Centennial Hike," Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton said. "The residents of the Commonwealth have benefited greatly from the strong partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the National Park Service, which will continue for generations to come."

The National Park Service was established by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916 and today manages more than 400 natural, historical, and cultural properties throughout the United States and its territories. Additionally, in 1916, the State of Massachusetts, whose park system dates back to 1893, established Harold Parker State Forest and Myles Standish State Forest. Centennial celebrations for both forests were held earlier this year.

"The Commonwealth and the National Park Service have worked together since its inception 100 years ago, and the agency looks forward to commemorating this shared stewardship with Centennial Hikes in some of our nation's oldest and most beautiful parks, found right here in Massachusetts," said DCR Commissioner Leo Roy. "I am thrilled to mark this historic occasion with opportunities for residents to learn about the state and national park conservation efforts that the Baker-Polito Administration continues to prioritize."

Residents wishing to attend one or more of the Aug. 25 Centennial Hikes are encouraged to bring water, insect repellent and appropriate footwear. Locations of the hikes include:

* Borderland State Park, Pond Loop Trail, 9 a.m.: Meet at Visitor Center, 259 Massapoag Ave., North Easton

* Mount Greylock State Reservation, 9 and 11 a.m.: Meet at the Visitor Center, 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough

* Mount Holyoke Range State Park, 9:30 a.m.: Meet at Visitor Center, 1500 West St. (Route 16), Amherst


* Harold Parker State Forest, 10 a.m.: Meet at Park Headquarters 305 Middleton Road, North Andover

* Middlesex Fells State Reservation, 10 a.m.: Meet at Bellevue Pond parking lot, 76 South Border Road, Medford

* Mount Wachusett State Reservation, 10 a.m.: Meet at Superintendent’s House on Mountain Road, Princeton

* Myles Standish State Forest, 10 a.m.: Meet at Rocky Pond Cranberry Bog Parking Lot, Bare Hill Road, South Carver

* Blue Hills State Reservation, 1 p.m.: Meet at Trailside Museum, 1904 Canton Ave., Milton

* Massasoit State Park, 3 p.m.: Meet at Main Parking Lot, 61 Middleboro Ave., East Taunton

* Blackstone River Canal and Heritage State Park, 4 p.m.: Meet at River Bend Farm, 287 Oak St., Uxbridge

* Mount Everett Summit, 5:30 p.m.: Meet at the parking lot, Mt. Everett Road, Mount Washington

* Maudslay State Park, 6:30 p.m.: Meet at Park Headquarters, 74 Curzon Mill Roadd, Newburyport

 

 


Tags: hiking,   parks,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation Scholarships

LUDLOW, Mass. — For the third year, Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation (BWPCC) will award scholarships to students from Lanesborough and Hancock. 
 
The scholarship is open to seniors at Mount Greylock Regional High School and Charles H. McCann Technical School. BWPCC will select two students from the class of 2024 to receive $1,000 scholarships.
 
The scholarships will be awarded to qualifying seniors who are planning to attend either a two- or four-year college or trade school program. Seniors must be from either Hancock or Lanesborough to be considered for the scholarship. Special consideration will be given to students with financial need, but all students are encouraged to apply.
 
The BWPCC owns and operates the Berkshire Wind Power Project, a 12 turbine, 19.6-megawatt wind farm located on Brodie Mountain in Hancock and Lanesborough. The non-profit BWPCC consists of 16 municipal utilities located in Ashburnham, Boylston, Chicopee, Groton, Holden, Hull, Ipswich, Marblehead, Paxton, Peabody, Russell, Shrewsbury, Sterling, Templeton, Wakefield, and West Boylston, and their joint action agency, the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC). 
 
To be considered, students must submit all required documents including a letter of recommendation from their school counselor and a letter detailing their educational and professional goals. Application and submission details will be shared with students via their school counselors. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 19.
 
 MMWEC is a not-for-profit, public corporation and political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts created by an Act of the General Court in 1975 and authorized to issue tax-exempt debt to finance a wide range of energy facilities.  MMWEC provides a variety of power supply, financial, risk management and other services to the state's consumer-owned, municipal utilities. 
View Full Story

More Lanesborough Stories