National Park Service
A Study of the Park and Recreation Problem of the United States 		NPS Logo

MASSACHUSETTS

NINETY PERCENT of this State's people live in urban centers. Approximately three-fourths of the total reside in the eastern section and it is estimated that about two-thirds of them are inhabitants of Boston and its immediate environs. The State has a large foreign-born element, principally concentrated in its cities. In addition to Boston, the principal population centers are Worcester, Fall River, Cambridge, Lynn, and Lowell. Only a slight increase in population is expected.

The chief recreational resources of the State are its three principal rivers (Connecticut, Merrimac, and Blackstone), its many small streams and lakes, its 1,000 miles of tidal shore, its many historical points of interest, the Berkshire Hills, and the desirable seasonal weather for summer and winter recreational pursuits.

The importance of public recreation areas has long been recognized in this State and the Boston Metropolitan Park System is outstanding. The State's greatest need at the present time is for extensive seashore areas. Recommendations have been made to acquire six beach sites. There is also a need for more recreational lands to serve the concentrated population of the eastern and east-central part of the State. Attention should also be given to the preservation of the most important scenic, scientific, and historical sites.

map
(click on image for an enlargement in a new window)



FEDERAL

National historical site:
114. Salem Maritime8.61

National forest:
9. Hopkins Memorial Experimental Forest1,626.5


INTERSTATE

Trailway:
13. Appalachian



STATE

State Parks:
1. Mount Everett920
11. Mount Greylock8,660
29. Deer Hill259
39. John C. Robinson1,081
40. Mount Tom1,800
42. Mount Sugarloaf89.3
70. Wachusett Mountain1,560
73. Purgatory Chasm110
83. Walden Pond144
105. Salisbury Beach519.9
119. Standish Monument25
130. Roland C. Nickerson1,707
132. Province Lands3,810
     Total
20,685.2

Proposed State parks:
91. Horseneck Beach
214—500
108. Wingaersheek Beach
300—700
120. Duxbury Beach
200—780
122. Scusset Beach
75—700
127. Poponesset Beach
325—625
129. Harding Beach
68—200

Proposed State parkways:
25. Western

81. Bay Circuit


State forests:
2. Bash Bish Falls390.1
3. East Mountain1,553.1
4. Arthur Wharton Swann986.8
5. Beartown7,999.2
7. Pittsfield3,854.5
10. Clarksburg2,801.1
12. Savoy Mountain10,641.2
14. Windsor1,616.4
15. October Mountain14,189
16. Campbell's Falls2.6
17. Sandisfield3,923.1
18. Granville2,232.5
19. Tolland2,940.1
20. Otis3,835.2
21. Chester-Blandford2,327.9
22. Becket456
23. Middlefield436.9
24. Peru2,185.6
26. Worthington225
30. Hawley4,052.4
31. Mohawk Trail5,746.2
32. Monroe4,238
33. Colrain1,268.4
34. New Salem70
35. Conway1,716.1
36. D. A. R1,237.2
38. Huntington441
43. Mt. Toby Demonstration755.6
44. Northfield399
45. Warwick4,526.3
46. Royalston842.7
47. Orange59
48. Mt. Grace1,223.8
49. Erving5,418.9
50. Wendell6,356.2
51. Shutesbury1,202.6
52. Federation Womens Club990.6
53. Petersham626.9
54. Otter River1,882.5
55. Winchendon177.5
56. Templeton640.6
57. West Brookfield132
58. Brimefield3,057.8
59. Spencer1,016.5
60. Oakham1,013.7
61. Barre643
62. Hubbardston1,106.9
63. Westminster342.5
64. Ashburnham1,795.6
66. Townesend2,713.5
67. Willard Brook1,430.8
69. Leominster3,293.2
71. Oxford28.7
72. Douglas3,467.9
74. Sutton599.3
75. Upton2,587.1
76. Hopkinton108
77. Marlboro173
78. Sudbury661.1
79. Carlisle21.9
80. Lowell-Dracut913
82. Billerica367.7
86. Franklin869.3
87. Wrentham1,075.3
88. Foxboro809.7
89. Rehoboth152
90. Freetown-Fall River6,582.5
94. West Bridgewater252
98. Harold Parker2,902.5
100. Boxford574.2
102. Willowdale1,902.6
103. Georgetown-Rowley1,069
121. Myles Standish10,909.4
123. Shawne-Crowell8,623
125. Martha's Vineyard4,472.8
128. Nantucket133
     Total
172,268.3

State wildlife areas:
8. Edward Howe Forbush410
65. Watatic Mountain139
68. Minn's Wildlife Sanctuary137
92. Penikese Island Sanctuary100
93. Ram Island Sanctuary2
101. Boxford Sanctuary333.9
104. Isaac Sprague Bird Sanctuary110
106. Ram Island Sanctuary20
111. Knight (Milk Island)11
115. Henry Cabot Lodge Bird Sanctuary1
126. Martha's Vineyard601
131. Billingsgate Island Sanctuary6
     Total
1,870.9

State waysides:
33 areas not indicated on map



LOCAL

Local parks:
96. Metropolitan parks of Boston (34 areas)12,779.9
Local parks outside other city limits not shown because of insufficient information.


Local forests:
98 town forests (not indicated by symbol)30,143

Semi-public parks (trustees of public reservations):
6. Monument Mountain Reservation260
95. Governor Hutchinson's Field10
107. Old Town Hill25
109. Halibut Point40
110. Mount Ann72
113. Misery Island80
124. Goodwill229
     Total
716

Semi-public forests:
37. Petticoat Hill50
99. Wenham Pine and Hemlock Knoll14
117. Whitney Woods660
     Total
724

Semi-public wildlife areas:
116. Bancroft Sanctuary25
118. Hyde Sanctuary14
     Total
39

Semi-public historic and scientific sites:
27. Chesterfield Gorge13
28. Wm. Cullen Bryant Homestead240
41. Dinosaur Footprints7
84. Rocky Narrows21
85. Medfield Rhododendrons90
112. Magnolia Shore12.5
     Total
383.5

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park-recreation-problem/massachusetts.htm
Last Updated: 18-May-2016