Massachusetts DCR Commisioner Nicole LaChapelle.( Courtesy of the DCR)
Making Public Lands Welcome to All
AN INTERVIEW WITH NEWLY APPOINTED DCR COMMISSIONER NICOLE LACHAPELLE
B y S c o t t E d w a r d A n d e r s o n
As the new commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation( DCR), Nicole LaChapelle brings a wealth of experience from her seven years as mayor of Easthampton, where she championed innovative approaches to environmental stewardship and economic development. Her mayoral tenure was marked by groundbreaking initiatives, including becoming the first mayor in the country to offer employee benefits for electric vehicle adoption and spearheading a comprehensive Green Infrastructure Master Plan that envisions cleaner rivers and restored natural resources. With a background spanning more than two decades in special education advocacy and civil rights law, combined with her collaborative leadership style, LaChapelle is committed to making DCR properties welcoming and accessible to all. Her vision is shaped by a strong sense of generational responsibility, dedication to public engagement, and a determination to build on the groundwork laid by her predecessors. In this interview, she shares her priorities for the region, her approach to partnership and inclusion, and her hopes for the future of treasured public lands in Massachusetts.
Congratulations on your appointment. How does it feel to step into this role, and what drew you to accept the position? Thank you! It ' s a bit surreal, but I ' m enjoying it so far. My experience as mayor of Easthampton helped me understand the importance of balancing the natural environment with economic development. The idea of generational stewardship of public resources really resonated with me, and I saw a lot of that same mission in DCR ' s work. I want everyone to feel they belong in our parks, just as I aimed for in Easthampton.
Accessibility is a major focus for the Healey-Driscoll administration. How do you envision making DCR properties and programs more accessible? Accessibility is a 360-degree concept for me. It ' s not just about physical access, like parking or language options, but about making accessibility part of DCR ' s culture. With the support of the administration, I want everyone to feel they belong and are safe in our properties, regardless of their background or abilities. DCR has put a lot of time and effort and money into the Universal Access Program, and I see an opportunity with me as commissioner, but even more importantly, the backing of the Healey- Driscoll administration, to have accessibility of belonging be seamless and invisible. We ' re talking about parks in places you don ' t typically see parks, like Heritage State Park in the middle of downtown Holyoke, my hometown. I ' ve watched this amazing community gathering in a state park in the middle of downtown. The ultimate goal is, can people close their eyes and know for sure they belong in a DCR property? That they feel safe, that they belong, that DCR properties reflect who they are as a person?
How do you see the role of state parks and recreation areas in building stronger communities? DCR parks should amplify the best practices of municipalities. For example, DCR
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