LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Department of Conservation and Recreation celebrated the retirement of Trails Supervisor Rebecca Barnes after four decades of service.

 

Friends and colleagues gathered in the Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center and park offices on Wednesday to celebrate Barnes.

 

She began working at Mount Greylock State Reservation while in high school as a seasonal conservation helper, saying she fell in love with the place.

 

"Fell in love with Mount Greylock, and ever since I've been doing different jobs and different positions," said the Hoosac Valley graduate. "But I came full circle back to Mount Greylock at the end of the career, and I've been taking care of the forest and parks for 40 years now, and loving it, the trails, the campgrounds, the summit, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail."

 

Priscilla Geigis, deputy commissioner for conservation and resource stewardship, wrote a song the group sang for Barnes, who she said has inspired her during the more than 20 years they've worked together. 

 

"Becky is so enthusiastic. She's so kind. She's funny. She's creative. She's really passionate and she's really dedicated. And I will miss all of those qualities," said Geigis. "She really knows how to balance conservation and recreation. She is so committed to connecting people to our incredible resources, not just here at her beloved Greylock, but also throughout the state to really make that connection and to pass on that idea that everyone has a role to play in stewardship. 

 

"And you can see that time and again with all of her work in mentoring our staff, in mentoring young people who are just starting out, mentoring volunteers, just really making that connection. And so she's a really hard worker. She she will do anything."

 

Barnes said one of her favorite accomplishments was helping to bring the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail from an early vision into development, working with the Berkshire Bike Path Council and the community. She's cared for the trail for roughly 25 years and said visitors often praise it as one of the best rail trails in the state, and possibly the country. 

 

She said she's always had a passion for the environment, studying first at Berkshire Community College, then urban forestry and park management at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she also eaned a master's degree in environmental and regional planning. 

 

In her span of work, she said some of her biggest accomplishments have been keeping the parks as natural as possible. 

 

"Some of the biggest accomplishments are just keeping the park as natural as possible, so that people can enjoy it and feel like when they come to a park that they're in the park," she said. "That's been really hard to do with technology and changes, but I think that's so important."

 

The 2014 visitor/center exhibit renovation, summit upgrades and interpretive stations, and work on the War Memorial Tower, including addressing water penetration and its reopening it were some of the important events she was proud of her involvement.

 

She also highlighted caring for the Appalachian Trail and working with volunteers as one of her most favorite responsibilities. Barnes was honored for her work in 2011 at an Appalachian Trail Conservancy gala in Washington, D.C.

 

Some of the biggest challenges she has had to overcome with the agency are staffing and working with tight budgets as well as adopting to ever-changing policies.

 

"Although things have gotten much better in the past few years, where we've had an increase in our staffing levels, so that's been really helpful. That really shows in the park, how well maintained they are," Barnes said. "So that's always been hard working for the park system. I think a lot of times policies change, operating procedures change as administration changes. So you have to be really flexible with that and know how to adapt to those changes, so that's been quite a challenge throughout my career."

 

She said she knows that after she leaves, those she has worked with will keep the parks in pristine condition.

 

"I think I have a great staff that has worked me with me for a long time, and I'll be leaving knowing that they're here and and they'll continue the work here, the good work, taking care of the trails, making sure everybody's safe, taking care of the campgrounds, the day use areas, rail trail," she said. "They know that they'll carry on that legacy to make sure that we're being good stewards and welcoming all the visitors here and making their experience the best they can they can possibly have when they come visit our parks." 

 

Even though she is retiring she won't be out of the parks. 

 

"I'm not going anywhere. I love to hike and I love the parks and I'll be out in the parks," Barnes said. "I formed some really good relationships with my co-workers. I'll miss seeing them every day, they're like family, but I'll certainly stay in touch. And I'll just miss working in this beautiful and full environment. 

 

"Even though I'll still be able to be a visitor, it'll be on a different level."