Department of Conservation and Recreation

The Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, Massachusetts, is now closed indefinitely, as wildfires continue to burn amid persistent drought conditions. Breakheart was completely shut down last Wednesday due to the wildfires. The closure was extended on Sunday as the fires continued, before the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation announced Wednesday that the closure is now until further notice. DCR...

Rain has brought some relief, but firefighters still have their hands full as wildfires continue to burn.

The DCR’s updated plan released Wednesday night states “rolling detours” will only last a few days, as opposed to two weeks of moving closures.

A plan for moving closures on a popular bike path that runs parallel to the MBTA Orange Line during the first two weeks of the train line’s shutdown was reworked Wednesday, amid outcry shortly after it was announced. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation had announced the moving closures on the Southwest Corridor Park bike path starting this...

A viewer reached out to the NBC10 Investigators about sand that has piled up on a walkway at Salisbury Reservation Beach, saying it hinders accessibility for senior citizens and people with disabilities. We contacted the DCR to ask why the path isn’t being kept clear.

It’s pretty easy to see why Norman Courtemanche loves enjoying Salisbury Reservation Beach with his family. During a recent sunny, 90-degree day, Courtemanche sat in a chair and admired the coastal scenery. “It’s a beautiful area to be in,” he said. “Especially on a day like this. You can’t beat it.” But over the years, the Lowell resident told...

Massachusetts has limited open-water swimming at historic Walden Pond, a popular place for experienced swimmers and competitive athletes to train. As the second summer of restrictions begins, open-water swimmers say the state’s focus is misplaced and that they’re being unfairly targeted. Last summer, in response to drownings across the state, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation banned open-water...

Swimming is once again restricted at Walden Pond, a water safety move that some athletes say unfairly affects them.

Massachusetts residents were getting out of the house and flocking to parks on Memorial Day — so much so that several parks were closed by the morning. Three state parks were closed by Monday morning, with one not accepting anyone for the rest of the day. That’s Walden Pond State Reservation, which had reached maximum capacity by 9:13 a.m. Cochituate…

An unsanctioned summer party planned for Boston’s Castle Island is apparently no longer moving forward, a day after tickets were being sold. The Eventbrite page for Summer Splash was down as of Wednesday evening and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation confirmed to NBC Boston that it had been in touch with organizers. The event was due to...

Several Massachusetts firefighters who battled wildfires in Idaho and Montana over the last few weeks have returned home.

Twenty Massachusetts firefighters on Saturday received a welcome on their return to Hopkinton from battling three large wildfires in Montana and Idaho. Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jim Montomery thanked the group of DCR firefighters for their “true commitment.” Daniel Bove was on his first trip out west to battle the blazes, but he said the crew was “always…

A 2019 DCR report surveyed about 10,000 trees along 14 state parkways and found only 2% were in good condition, raising public safety and environmental concerns.

State lawmakers are reacting to a report from the NBC10 Investigators about the health of the huge trees lining historic parkways around Boston. According to a 2019 DCR inventory of about 10,000 trees along 14 state parkways, only 2% were in good condition. On busy thoroughfares like VFW Parkway, 43% of the trees were rated in poor condition, the report…