Middlesex Fells Gets $60,000 Boost In State Budget

MELROSE, MA - The Middlesex Fells Reservation in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, and Winchester will see $60,000 in funding over the next fiscal year thanks to an earmark in the state’s FY2023 budget.

The money is going to the Friends of the Fells organization to support “increased safety and responsible stewardship” of the Fells, as noted in a press release from local legislators on Friday.

“The Middlesex Fells is a wonderful resource available to our communities, but it faces a variety of challenges, including balancing recreational opportunities for all with responsible stewardship,” Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester) said in the statement. “I’m excited that this state funding will help support the Sustainable Fells campaign being rolled out by the Friends of the Fells.”

The Friends of the Fells is a nonprofit organization working to advocate for and protect the sprawling Fells Reservation. It launched its Sustainable Fells campaign, in part, to augment what organizers said were state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) efforts that had fallen short.

Friends of the Fells Executive Director Chris Redfern highlighted three multi-year initiatives in a previous announcement for the campaign. Those include:

• Identifying and closing illegal “rouge trails” in sensitive wildlife habitats.
• Identifying and managing invasive plant populations in key areas.
• Reforming a “culture of non-compliance” in the Fells to promote a sense of “community stewardship.”

The Friends of the Fells received a $75,000 earmark in last year’s state budget, again using money for its Sustainable Fells campaign.

Redfern celebrated this year’s allocation this week.

"This award will boost our collaboration with DCR, state and municipal police, elected officials, and nonprofit partners to promote a culture in the Middlesex Fells where everyone is welcome, visitors feel safe, and opportunities are provided for park guests to actively participate in preserving the nature and wildlife in the Fells for future generations,” he said.

The Fells boasts over 100 miles of trails across its communities.

Learn more about the Friends of the Fells through their website.