Questions
About Your Community: Parks
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to Land
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.
Connecticut |
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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.
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Maine |
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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
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New Hampshire |
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New Hampshire Division of Parks
Bureau of Trails
P.O. Box 1856
Concord, NH 03302-1856
(603) 271-3254
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Massachusetts |
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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
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Rhode Island |
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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
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Vermont |
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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
.
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