Department of Conservation and Recreation

Massachusetts has limited open-water swimming at historic Walden Pond, a popular place for experienced swimmers and competitive athletes to train. As the second summer of restrictions begins, open-water swimmers say the state’s focus is misplaced and that they’re being unfairly targeted. Last summer, in response to drownings across the state, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation banned open-water...

Massachusetts residents were getting out of the house and flocking to parks on Memorial Day — so much so that several parks were closed by the morning. Three state parks were closed by Monday morning, with one not accepting anyone for the rest of the day. That’s Walden Pond State Reservation, which had reached maximum capacity by 9:13 a.m. Cochituate…

An unsanctioned summer party planned for Boston’s Castle Island is apparently no longer moving forward, a day after tickets were being sold. The Eventbrite page for Summer Splash was down as of Wednesday evening and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation confirmed to NBC Boston that it had been in touch with organizers. The event was due to...

Twenty Massachusetts firefighters on Saturday received a welcome on their return to Hopkinton from battling three large wildfires in Montana and Idaho. Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jim Montomery thanked the group of DCR firefighters for their “true commitment.” Daniel Bove was on his first trip out west to battle the blazes, but he said the crew was “always…

State lawmakers are reacting to a report from the NBC10 Investigators about the health of the huge trees lining historic parkways around Boston. According to a 2019 DCR inventory of about 10,000 trees along 14 state parkways, only 2% were in good condition. On busy thoroughfares like VFW Parkway, 43% of the trees were rated in poor condition, the report…

In what it described as a “sobering statistic,” a DCR-commissioned report assessed the health of nearly 10,000 trees along 14 parkways. A high percentage of trees rated poorly, which one arborist said can present a risk to the public.

The number of drownings is on the rise in Massachusetts, so officials are encouraging people to stay safe in the water — and offering more money to lifeguards in hopes of hiring more of them.

As Boston enters the fourth day of a sweltering heat wave Tuesday, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is opening their spray decks to offer people another way to cool down. DCR, which manages state parks, extended the hours of operation at the spray decks, where people can run through or stand in water fountains free of charge. The…

A 29-year-old man in Clinton was found unresponsive in the water around the Wachusett Dam, authorities say. Rangers from the Department of Conservation and Recreation pulled the man from the water around 8 p.m. Friday night, performing CPR until paramedics got to the site. The victim was then brought to Clinton Hospital, according to Massachusetts State Police. His current condition…

The new playground will modernize the existing playscape and bring more accessible equipment to ensure that kids of all levels and abilities can enjoy the space.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker held a press conference Friday with a special guest — former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. The reason for the press conference was to announce a $1.2 million donation from Gronkowski and the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation to fund a full renovation of the Charlesbank Playground, located in the state Department of Conservation and…

Another Massachusetts beach is reducing its parking capacity to 50% over concerns of overcrowding and as the town now finds itself in the state’s new coronavirus “red zone.” The parking capacity at Nantasket Beach State Reservation in Hull will be reduced until further notice, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation announced Friday. The announcement comes two days after Hull…

Swimmers in Massachusetts are being warned about large jellyfish that have been spotted off the state’s coast. The Hingham Harbormaster issued a warning Sunday saying numerous lion’s mane jellyfish had been seen in the town’s inner and outer harbor over the weekend. At least one resident has been stung but did not require medical treatment, the warning said. The...

State parks officials are welcoming people to the state’s open lands amid the stay-at-home order in place in Massachusetts, just not in great numbers, and at 10 a.m. Saturday, the first park of the day was temporarily closed. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Reservation announced the closure of the parking areas at Walden Pond State Reservation, due to...

The first Saturday of May finally brought spring weather to Massachusetts, drawing people out of their homes for a breath of fresh air amid the stay-at-home advisory. But they filled up state parks, prompting authorities to close at least five of them temporarily Saturday afternoon. Two had to be closed twice: Concord’s Walden Pond State Reservation and Princeton’s Wachusett...

Three homes in the Berkshires were damaged in fires that state officials believe are connected and suspicious. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said Sunday night that the three houses were found burning on West Road in Mount Washington earlier in the day. Two of the houses are owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Both were destroyed. The…

Plans are in the works to redevelop one of the largest islands in Boston Harbor, but advocates need your help. Peddocks Island, which sits just off of Hull, currently draws a small number of visitors. There are yurts on the island, as well as an old chapel and fort. Part of the movie “Shutter Island” was filmed there several years…

We are saddened to report that the World War II Memorial was vandalized. According to City Councilor Ed Flynn, it appears that oil that was poured over the granite memorial stones at some point overnight. Flynn was alerted to the vandalism on Monday morning. Massachusetts State Police were alerted and the Department of Conservation and Recreation is currently on scene...

Massachusetts State Police have released surveillance images of a man suspected of vandalizing the exterior of the State House as well as a private residence early Sunday morning. Authorities said the graffiti was discovered on two corners of the State House, at a Department of Conservation and Recreation guard building, a private residence on the corner of Mount Vernon and...

Massachusetts State Police are investigating graffiti left on the Statehouse and two nearby buildings over the weekend. Police say the Statehouse’s exterior was vandalized in two places, while a Department of Conservation and Recreation guard building and a private residence were also defaced. The graffiti was discovered at about 2 a.m. Sunday.