By Bryan Farr, Jacob’s Ladder Business Association and The Historic Route 20 Association,
HUNTINGTON – Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Leo Roy and Dom Sacco, Western Regional DCR Director met in Huntington on Friday morning with invited civic organizations and community leaders to have an open discussion on issues facing the areas in the hilltowns over which the DCR has control. The meeting was secured as the result of a year of planning by Derrick Mason of Russell.
L to R: Jed Mason, Jeff Penn, Derrick Mason, DCR Commissioner Leo Roy, Liz Massa, Bryan Farr, Jeanne LeClair, Dom Sacco, Western Region DCR Director at CM Gardner State Park on Friday. (Photo submitted)
Commissioner Roy began the morning discussing his role, coming to the job from a rural town, and the current state of the DCR. The represented organizations followed with respective introductions at Huntington Town Hall. The initial discussion focused on the now closed CM Gardner State Park in Huntington and campground at Chester Blandford State Forest and their impacts on tourism, the local economy and the future of the hilltowns. Reference to Windsor State Forest was addressed to act as a model, where community nonprofit organizations are seeking a shared partnership of services. The entourage then embarked on a tour of Gardner State Park, where parking issues, public safety and operating costs were addressed.
After the tour of Gardner State Park, a luncheon, catered by the Chester Common Table, was held at Stanton Hall where a round table discussion led by Commissioner Roy asked specifically what valuable assets were most important to the hilltowns. Commissioner Roy shared the same passion as the hilltowners and diligently listened to the concerns, as well as informing the group that the state will be investing more dollars in Western Mass in 2018. He recapped the statements and addressed the issues directly related to the DCR.
Addressed were: a potential partnership with the Town of Huntington or other nonprofits and CM Gardner State Park to share operating costs; the identification of former trails and creating a connecting trail network throughout the hilltowns; identifying Fish and Game Lands as potential DCR transfer of ownership for better use of land; the opening of the Chester Blandford State Forest Campground with an operator, and attracting an outfitter on Route 20 along the Westfield River with bike, ski, kayak and canoe rentals.
Open spaces, recreation areas and existing resources were addressed as a key to attracting tourists and boosting economic development in the hilltowns. Commissioner Roy stated that in this age, the commonwealth cannot act alone, nor can the individual towns and organizations, but a shared action plan can be successful. The autonomous organizations in attendance agreed that input, partnering and networking together to help solve the problems that are now faced will help with the future of the hilltowns. Non DCR issues addressed were the implementation of broadband, attraction and retention of young people and businesses to further attract tourists and future residents.
In attendance were representatives from the Town of Huntington, Huntington Police Department, Hilltown Collaborative, Wild & Scenic Westfield River, Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway Trail, Jacob’s Ladder Business Association, Highlands Footpath, The Historic Route 20 Association, and Western Mass Hilltown Hikers.
Following the discussion, Commissioner Roy toured Sanderson Brook Falls and the closed campground at Chester Blandford State Forest to round out his six-hour visit to the hilltowns.
“The beauty of this meeting was the fact that all of these hilltown organizations were working together for a common goal and creative solutions to the challenges we’re facing in the hilltowns,” said Michele Kenney, president of the Jacob’s Ladder Business Association.
