Maintain state parks:How can Romney keep his promise?

From the Telegram
Monday, August 14, 2006



Mass. must reverse trend of decay

Gov. Mitt Romney’s avowed plan to raise Massachusetts state parks to world-class standards is laudable. Parks improve quality of life, attract tourists and educate the public. However, world-class parks are not free, or even cheap. Maintaining the public’s natural and historic treasures requires a continuing investment of time, energy and money, which for the past decade, has not been forthcoming. The result is the parks have become increasingly shabby. Fortunately, Mr. Romney, two years ago, appointed a stewardship commission, which in addition to working to improve management of parks is lobbying for park funding. Last year Massachusetts progressed from the 49th to 48th place in terms of per capita state funding for parks.


While creative approaches — volunteer efforts, corporate sponsorships, the partnership with the state Highway Department — can accomplish much, the parks still must have state funding. The crumbling summit roads at Mount Wachusett and Mount Greylock, for example, are unlikely to be rebuilt by volunteers. Massachusetts cannot allow its investment in hundreds of thousands of acres of forests and parks and in historic sites such as Plymouth Rock to deteriorate into shameful eyesores and breeding grounds for crime. Dwayne G. Ericson, supervisor at Wachusett Mountain and the nearby Leominster State Forest, said recently, “Any amenity we have, any built structure, is in decline.” This situation must be corrected. State officials should continue to pursue creative ways to maintain and improve public lands. In addition, the Legislature and governor must allocate a reasonable share of admittedly finite resources to parks and forests. The Environmental League of Massachusetts notes that about two-thirds of a penny out of every state tax dollar is spent on the environment. While modest progress has been made over the last couple of years, spending a whole penny of every tax dollar on the environment wouldn’t be too much to ask.