Questions About Your Community: Parks

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There are literally thousands of parks, forests, and recreation sites across the United States. They range from huge national parks, such as Yellowstone, Acadia, the Grand Canyon, and Everglades, to community "pocket"parks, with a corresponding range of recreational opportunities and outdoor experiences. Federally managed areas alone include 371 national parks, 422 national wildlife refuges, 114 national forests, over 500 sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation, and 457 sites managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. A number of other federal agencies also support recreational uses associated with trails, waterways, and maintenance activities. This same breadth of opportunities also appears at the state and local levels, and also includes non-governmental sites managed by organizations such the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, and others.

But with this broad range of recreational sites and parks comes an equally broad range of environmental issues. Just as in any other land uses, the way parks are managed can have good or bad environmental impacts, from pesticide runoff, siltation from overused hiking and logging trails, and destruction of habitat.

Below is a list of sources to help you reach organizations that manage national and state parks here in New England. Your state contacts can also help you find out more about local parks and recreation sites.

National

•	Bureau of Land Management	•	Bureau of Reclamation
•	Federal Highway Administration	•	National Park Service
•	Recreational Opportunities on Federal Lands	•	Tennessee Valley Authority
•	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	•	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
•	U.S. Forest Service

State

Connecticut	top of page
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Outdoor Recreation State Parks Division (860) 424-3200 State Parks Division Manages 93 State Parks including 13 historical and cultural sites, 31 State Forests, nine State Monuments, and 108 state-owned boat launch areas. They manage a system of campgrounds in State Parks and Forests as well as a system of recreational trails. The Parks Division works cooperatively with municipal park and recreation programs to increase recreational programming. They also offer environmental education and interpretive programs at various sites.
Maine	top of page
Maine Department of Conservation Bureau of Parks and Lands Regional Offices Main Office AMHI Complex (Hospital Street) in Augusta: 22 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04330-0022 (207) 287-3821 State Parks Southern Region 107 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0107 (207) 624-6080 State Parks Northern Region 106 Hogan Road Bangor, ME 04401 (207) 941-4014 Public Lands Northern Region RR 1, Box 16DC Ashland, Maine 04732 (207) 435-7966 Public Lands Western Region Box 327 Farmington, ME 04938 (207) 778-8231 Public Lands Eastern Region Box 415 Old Town, ME 04468 (207) 827-5936
New Hampshire	top of page
New Hampshire Division of Parks Bureau of Trails P.O. Box 1856 Concord, NH 03302-1856 (603) 271-3254
Massachusetts	top of page
For information on parks in Massachusetts contact the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management at one of the following numbers: Boston: (617) 727-3180 Southeast: (508) 866-2580 Northeast: (978) 369-3350 Worcester: (978) 368-0126 Springfield: (413) 784-1755 Berkshires: (413) 442-8928
Rhode Island	top of page
The Department of Environmental Management includes two divisions with primary responsibility for parks and recreational facilities, as well as the forest environment division, which also has some functions related to recreation. The Division of Parks and Recreation manages a system of approximately 14,000 acres of parks, beaches, campgrounds, bicycle paths, parkways, a golf course, and numerous smaller properties and historical sites, including 14 state parks and 7 state beaches. Division of Parks 2321 Hartford Avenue Johnston, RI 02919-1719 (401) 222-2632 F. (401) 934-0610 The Division of Fish and Wildlife operates 24 wildlife management areas and more than 100 boat launch ramps and sportfishing access sites and is responsible for fisheries management, including hatcheries and stocking programs; habitat restoration; land acquisition; public access, education, and information; and public angling and hunting programs. Division of Fish and Wildlife 4808 Tower Hill Road Wakefield, RI 02879 (401) 789-3094 F. (401) 783-4460
Vermont	top of page
The State Parks Division of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation manages state parks in Vermont. The division manages 51 state parks which provide opportunities for picnicking, swimming, camping and other outdoor recreational activities. Summer Series, an arts program in the parks is held annually, and selected parks also provide interpretive and educational opportunities. Several parks offer spacious meeting and gathering facilities. Park operations personnel are based out of four regional offices, located in North Springfield, Pittsford, Essex Junction, and Barre. The main number for the State Parks Division is (802) 241-3655 or http://www.vtstateparks.com .

Serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, & Tribal Nations

Questions About Your Community: Parks

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