was a key partner in creating an ADA-accessible switchback trail on Mount Tom and provided technical advice for school projects. Our forest control teams also work closely with local fire departments, and programs like Summer Nights engage youth with activities in our parks.
The Summer Nights program is a great example. It started with 11 partners and we ' re now over 100 partners, where DCR funds programming on our properties for kids between 8 and 18, with local partners who already have those relationships. It might be yoga, film or photography, or a pollinators program. DCR provides the location and funding for programming during that critical 2 to 8 p. m. timeframe, when teenagers might otherwise have different ideas of what to do with their time. We want to continue and expand these partnerships.
What are your priorities for DCR in the Berkshires? I want to connect communities like Pittsfield, North Adams, and others to DCR ' s offerings, focusing on transportation and accessibility. Working with municipalities and regional transit authorities, we aim to make it easy for people to access our parks as part of their routine. The geographic challenges are real, but we ' re committed to overcoming them.
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Are there any particular places in the Berkshires that stand out to you? I ' ve spent time in North Adams— I actually used to work there and oversaw some school programs in the late’ 90s into the mid-2000s— Pittsfield, Williamstown, along the Mohawk Trail, and Bash Bish Falls. The verdant natural beauty and cultural resources of the Berkshires are stunning, and I believe more people should experience them. Protecting these environmental resources is a top concern, especially as we address climate solutions.
How do you plan to build on the progress made in forestry management and facility investments, especially regarding wildfire prevention? I plan to follow the comprehensive plans developed by the administration and my predecessors, focusing on deferred maintenance and new structures where needed. Many projects are already underway, and my goal is to support the team in getting them across the finish line. I’ m very proud of the work our forest control teams do. Last year, there was unfortunately a record-setting number of wildfires, and DCR was there for every single fire, working with municipalities to suppress those fires. But we don ' t disappear when that fire goes out. The training continues, and we want to replicate that partnership model over and over again.
Looking ahead, what will success look like for you and for Massachusetts residents who rely on DCR properties? Success means maximizing the accessibility and appeal of DCR properties for everyone. It ' s a DCR for all. I want people of all backgrounds to feel they belong and to see DCR locations as top destinations for recreation, learning, and relaxation. When the world is unknown and unexpected, there is a respite that comes when you ' re walking into a DCR property that you will experience no other place. Going forward, I want to make sure the people who are walking into DCR properties look like any and every resident and visitor to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Public engagement and outreach are key, and our investments should enhance quality of life, the environment, and the local economy. n
Photo Contest
This year’ s theme is in honor of our sister publication:“ Music in the Berkshires”
The Berkshire hills are alive with music, so show us what you’ ve got! The door’ s wide open to your visual interpretation of music – from people dancing at an outdoor concert to a child exploring a music shop; from someone learning an instrument to a prodigy performing; from a choral concert to a jam session at home. Hit the right note – and get your photo published in Berkshire Magazine!
Entries accepted through October 6, 2025 berkshiremag. com / photo-contest
Holiday Fall 2023 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // // 99