“BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced over $27.8 million in grant funding for park improvements and open space acquisitions across Massachusetts that will conserve 2,375 acres. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) awarded Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC), Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND), Conservation Partnership, Cranberry Bog Acquisition for Restoration, and Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants that will support 54 communities. The five grant programs will help municipalities and land trusts safeguard land for outdoor recreation, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and other purposes.
EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper announced the awards at a meeting of the Resilient Lands Conservation Coalition. The coalition is a recently formed partnership between state agencies and nonprofit land conservation organizations in Massachusetts, co-convened by EEA and Mass Audubon.
“Investing in parks and open space is critical for our state’s resilience against climate change, tackling issues like urban heat islands, flooding, sea level rise, and drought,” said Governor Maura Healey “These projects boost public health, drive tourism, and strengthen our economy. By aligning our grants with the Resilient Lands Initiative, we commit to creating sustainable communities and safeguarding our natural resources for future generations.”
Mass.gov photo.…