Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation ( DCR ) is a federal agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States and is affiliated with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs . The office is known as the administrative organization of parks and parkways (here in particular the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston ), but also takes on other tasks to "secure, publicize and improve the common stock of natural, cultural and leisure-oriented resources". As of May 24, 2011, Edward M. Lambert, Jr. has served as the agent for the DCR, which is the largest landowner in Massachusetts.
history
The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) were previously responsible for the land and roads that are now under the administration of the DCR . Under Governor Mitt Romney , both were merged to form today's DCR.
In 2009, ownership and management of all non-pedestrian bridges were transferred to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation .
Internal structure
The DCR is under the control of the competent Commissioner ( Commissioner ), reporting to the all functional areas (Administration, Human Resources, Finance and External Affairs and Legal) directly. The daily work takes place in four departments, each of which reports to a Deputy Commissioner of Operations :
- Division of State Parks and Recreation
- Division of Urban Parks and Recreation
- Division of Water Supply Protection
- Division of Planning and Engineering
- Stewardship Council
Division of State Parks and Recreation
The department is responsible for the maintenance and management of more than 450,000 acres (approx. 1,800 km²) of forest and park areas in private and public ownership. This corresponds to approximately 10% of the total land mass of the state of Massachusetts. In this area there are almost 30 campsites , over 2,000 mi (3,218.69 km ) of hiking trails , 87 beaches or coastal areas, 37 water areas of various sizes, 62 playgrounds , 55 sports fields , 145 mi (233.35 km ) of bicycle paths and former private houses which are now part of DCR's own Historic Curatorship Program .
Division of Urban Parks and Recreation
This department is responsible for the maintenance and management of a wide variety of urban landscapes in Greater Boston , including urban green spaces, historic sites, and other areas deemed particularly worthy of protection. The origins of this endeavor date back to the year 1893, when the Metropolitan Park Commission was founded with the assistance of the Olmsted Brothers and the first regional system of its kind was installed. The area of responsibility of this department is known as the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston .
Division of Water Supply Protection
Responsibility here lies in the administration and protection of drinking water supplies in the Greater Boston region . In particular, it monitors lakes and ponds, as well as well drilling and rainfall levels throughout the state.
Division of Planning and Engineering
This department offers professional services for upcoming engineering work, developments, designs and construction projects for DCR's own space. In addition to the park and forest areas, the department is responsible for various catchment areas of waterways , coasts, 340 dams , recreational areas as well as more than 525 mi (844.91 km ) of parkways and nearly 300 bridges and tunnels.
The department is headed by a chief engineer who oversees six operational units:
- Engineering for bridges and parkways
- Engineering for structures and facilities
- Engineering for dams and waterways
- Engineering for rainwater and the environment
- Approval of construction projects
- Construction services
Stewardship Council
The DCR Stewardship Council is made up of thirteen members appointed by the Massachusetts Governor to advise the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs , the Commissioner of Conservation and Recreation, and DCR employees. The panel met for the first time on September 28, 2004. The main task of the panel is to "ensure a safe, accessible, well-maintained and well-managed system of open spaces and recreational areas".
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b About DCR. (No longer available online.) Department of Conservation and Recreation, archived from the original on May 7, 2012 ; accessed on May 29, 2012 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Christina Pazzanese: A big concern on two major parkways , Boston Globe . September 12, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ Division of Urban Parks and Recreation History . Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
- ^ Stewardship Council. (No longer available online.) Commonwealth of Massachusetts, archived from the original on May 4, 2012 ; accessed on May 30, 2012 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
