In an effort to expand protection and improvement of community gardens, greenways, and urban wilds, The Trustees of Reservations and Boston Natural Areas Network have formed a permanent affiliation to act with one voice for conservation.
Since 1891, The Trustees, the world's oldest regional land trust, has helped protect open lands as well as historical, cultural, and natural landmarks throughout Massachusetts. Currently, half of Massachusetts' population lives within five miles of one of the 53,000 acres of land protected and cared for by The Trustees, including favorite destinations such as Crane's Beach in Ipswich, World's End in Hingham and Monument Mountain in Great Barrington. The new affiliation with BNAN will enable The Trustees to expand conservation efforts into Boston, helping to preserve the City's character and diminishing natural landscapes.
"It has been a priority to help ensure urban centers like Boston remain livable, where residents and visitors have access to parks and open spaces," said Andrew Kendall, president of The Trustees. "BNAN's success and strong Boston identity make them an ideal partner with whom The Trustees can work to fulfill this mission. This is a unique opportunity to create synergies and economies between two organizations for the benefit and enjoyment of all who live in, or visit Boston, and we are thrilled that it has happened."
BNAN will remain a separate not-for-profit, and will continue to own its 37 community gardens, and operate its broad range of educational and community organizing programs. BNAN's affiliation with The Trustees will accelerate its efforts to acquire, protect, and advocate for Boston's lands and strengthen the organizations' shared commitment to promote quality of life in the City.
"For 29 years, BNAN has successfully worked to preserve, protect and improve community gardens, greenways, and urban wilds throughout Boston," said Valerie Burns, BNAN president. "Our commitment to Boston and to all those who live here is at the heart of our mission, and that is why we affiliated with The Trustees. The relationship will allow us to expand our efforts to pursue the advocacy, development, and funding necessary to enhance the protection and expansion of Boston's green spaces. We look forward to working with our community and public partners like Boston's Mayor Menino, Environmental Services Chief Jim Hunt, Parks Commissioner Toni Pollak and state DCR Commissioner Stephen Burrington to support the agenda for a greener city."
Many Bostonians live near or enjoy the urban wilds and community gardens BNAN has protected and cares for in Boston's neighborhoods. However, as the City of Boston continues to face limited resources for expanding the protection and improvement of these natural areas, the affiliation between BNAN and The Trustees is well-timed. Supported by a new $4 million endowment, together BNAN and The Trustees will have expanded resources to carry out their mission in Boston more broadly and effectively, including completing the multi-mile Neponset River and East Boston greenways and pursuing new open space projects with community and public partners. For more information on the greenways, go to www.bostonnatural.org/greenways.php.
As an affiliate of The Trustees, BNAN will continue operating as an independent, nonprofit organization with its own board. Valerie Burns will continue as president of BNAN, and will join The Trustees as a Vice President. BNAN staff will become employees of The Trustees. The Trustees board will include two BNAN directors, and BNAN's board will include two Trustees directors.
"The Trustees' immediate goal is to support BNAN in pursuing its mission in Boston," noted Kendall, "However, we also hope to apply BNAN's expertise to other urban centers in Massachusetts where The Trustees has a presence, including Fall River, Holyoke, Leominster, and Gloucester. In the end, we view the affiliation not only as a win for Boston, but a victory for Massachusetts."
About The Trustees of Reservations
Founded in 1891, The Trustees of Reservations is the nation's oldest regional nonprofit conservation organization. Supported by more than 45,000 members, The Trustees protect Massachusetts' natural and historic resources for everyone to enjoy. From working farms to historic homesteads, barrier beaches to mountain vistas, The Trustees own, manage, and interpret nearly 25,000 acres on 96 reservations in 70 communities across Massachusetts, including four National Historic Landmarks, a National Natural Landmark, and seven properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition, The Trustees hold perpetual conservation restrictions on nearly 14,000 acres -- more than any other conservation organization in Massachusetts -- permanently protecting scenic and natural areas from development, while landowners retain ownership and management responsibilities under certain restrictions. For properties more suitable for protection by partner organizations, The Trustees have assisted in the protection of nearly 12,000 additional acres.
With the support of more than 13,500 donors, The Trustees have just completed a landmark capital campaign, raising $62.3 million in cash and receiving more than $35 million in land in just five years -- the largest campaign by an environmental organization in Massachusetts' history. Funds raised have been used to establish nine new reservations on 1,685 acres -- all of which are open to the public.
The Trustees employ 130 full-time and 400 seasonal staff with expertise in many areas, including ecology, education, historic resources, land protection, conservation, land management, and planning. To find out how you can interview Trustees' experts on important topics and issues, volunteer or become a member, please call The Trustees of Reservations at 781.784.0567, visit our website at www.thetrustees.org, or email us at membership@ttor.org.
About Boston Natural Areas Network
BNAN preserves, expands, and improves community gardens, greenways, and urban wilds in neighborhoods throughout Boston. Through community organizing, acquisition, programming, and advocacy, BNAN has led the protection of over 800 acres of urban wilds, and the creation of over 3 miles of greenways. In addition, BNAN as the city's largest land trust owns 37 community gardens and provides services to all Boston's 175 urban gardens. As an advocate for urban space for 29 years, BNAN has a unique position to speak for Boston's green space issues. BNAN's work is implemented through a wide network of relationships with citizens, elected and appointed officials, non-profit organizations and businesses that encompass public and private open spaces across the city. Please visit our website at www.bostonnatural.org for more information.
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PEDA Site 9 Preparation, Member Retirement
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The redevelopment of Site 9 for mixed-use in the William Stanley Business Park is set to take off.
Edward Weagle, principal geologist at Roux Associates, gave an update on the yearlong work to the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority last week.
"It's been a real pleasure for me to work on a project like this," he said. "This is kind of like a project of a career of a lifetime for me, and I'm very pleased to see that we're just at the finish line right now. My understanding is that all the documents are in front of the commissioner, waiting for her to sign off."
Mill Town Capital is planning to develop a mixed-use building that includes housing on the site. Roux, headquartered in Islandia, N.Y., was hired assist with obtaining grant financing, regulatory permitting, and regulatory approvals to aid in preparing the 16.5-acre site for redevelopment. Approximately 25,000 cubic yards of concrete slabs, foundations, and pavements were removed from the former GE site.
Once the documents are signed off, PEDA can begin the work of transferring 4.7 acres to Mill Town. Weagle said the closing on this project will make it easier to work on the other parcels and that he's looking forward to working on Sites 7 and 8.
PEDA received a $500,000 Site Readiness Program grant last year from MassDevelopment for Sites 7 and Site 8. The approximately 3-acre sites are across Woodlawn Avenue from Site 9 and border Kellogg Street.
In other news, the state Department of Transportation has rented the east side of the parking lot for CDL (Commercial Driver's License) training. This is an annual lease that began in September and will bring in $37,200 in revenue.
Lastly, the meeting concluded with congratulations to Maurice "Mick" Callahan Jr. on his retirement.
Callahan is a former chair and a founding member of PEDA, dating back to when the board was established in the 1990s. He has also served on a number of civic and community boards and has volunteered for many organizations in the Berkshires. He is the president of M. Callahan Inc.
"The one thing that's been a common denominator back is that you've always put others before yourself. You've served others well. You've been a mentor to two generations of Denmarks, and I'm sure many generations of other families and people within this city," said board Chair Jonathan Denmark. "We can never say thank you enough, but thank you for your services, for the creation of this board, your service to the city of Pittsfield, and to all the communities that you've represented and enjoy retirement."
"It wasn't always easy to be in the position that you were in Mick, but you handled it with so much grace, always respecting this community, bringing pride to our community," member Linda Clairmont said. "I could not have accomplished many of the things I did, especially here for this business part, without you all of the Economic Development discussions that we had really informed my thinking, and I'm so grateful."
Callahan left the team with a message as this was his final meeting, but said he is always reachable if needed.
"I also have to say that a lot of great people sat around this table and other tables before the current board, and the time that I had with Pam [Green] and Mike [Filpi] sticking around, the leadership of this mayor [board member Linda Tyer], and it really, it was always great synergy," he said.
"So don't be afraid to embrace change. And you know, you got a business model. It's been around long time. Shake it up. Take a good look at it, figure out where it needs to go, and you're lucky to have leadership that you have here."
The Wildcats marched 84 yards in a drive that consumed 11 minutes, 17 seconds of the third quarter for a critical touchdown in a 48-36 win over Boston’s Cathedral High in the quarter-finals of the Division 8 Tournament. click for more
Evelyn Julieano and Leanne Maschino each put down seven kills, and the Lenox volleyball team came out strong in advancing past Whitinsville Christian in three sets in the Division 5 State Tournament quarter-finals on Friday.
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Kofi Roberts and Everett Bayliss remained tied for the team lead with 14 goals apiece, and Lucas Burrow notched his second goal as Mount Greylock (11-6-1) won for the fourth time in five games and earned its third shutout victory in the Western Mass tournament. click for more
GG Nicastro scored in the 37th minute to break a 1-1 tie, and the Mount Greylock girls soccer team Wednesday went on to a 2-1 win over Monson in the Western Massachusetts Class C Championship Game at Berkshire Community College.
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Primary setter Grace Julieano had 22 assists – 10 of them to her sister Evelyn and eight to Sara Isby in Saturday's three-set win over Mount Greylock. click for more
Darius Taliaferro and Cameron Coon each scored a goal on Friday to lead the Mount Everett boys soccer team to a 2-1 win over Gateway Regional. click for more
