Initiatives
Proposed DCR Cuts Put Your Park at Risk
The Blue Hills Reservation, as well as all other Massachusetts’ state parks, rely on strong operations and seasonal staff to stay safe, clean, and accessible. This is especially essential during the busy spring and summer months that will be here before you know it. A...
Action Alert: Contact Your State Senator
Please contact your state senator today to let him or her know you value our state parks and want to make sure they are adequately funded. See sample email below. The Senate Ways and Means has just released its version of the state budget. The budget is $2.7 million...
Action Alert: Contact Your State Rep to Support Our Parks
Please contact your state legislator today to let them know you value our state parks and want to make sure they are adequately funded. See sample email below. While more people than ever are visiting state parks like the Blue Hills, funding to support the park...
Advocacy for Quincy Trails to the Blue Hills
Anne, a long-time Friends’ member, lived in an apartment complex adjacent to the Granite Links Golf Course. For over a year, she looked for a trail to the Blue Hills. She asked neighbors, friends, and employees at the golf course but, even though the course borders...
Invasive Plants that Threaten the Blue Hills
Watch arboretum director, Debbie Merriam, to explore the world of invasive plants that live in the Blue Hills and threaten our native plants and animals. You’ll also learn how you can join volunteers and members of the Friends of the Blue Hills to control these...
Advocating for Access to the Blue Hills in Quincy
Thanks to the advocacy of Friends of the Blue Hills' members and partners, the Quincy City Council held a public hearing and a public walking tour to learn more about the trails and increasing access to the Blue Hills. As a result, Quarry Hills Associates has agreed...
Public Land Preservation Act — Passed!
Congratulations to the Friends of the Blue Hills' members and all our partners! After more than two decades, we succeeded in passing the Public Lands Preservation Act! A huge thank you to Rep. Ruth Balser and Senator James B. Eldridge for sponsoring this bill through...
Public Transportation Study Complete
One hundred years ago the Blue Hills Reservation was created as a haven for city dwellers wanting to escape from the stress of urban life. At that time people could conveniently hop on trolleys that originated in Mattapan and other Boston neighborhoods to travel to...
Ponkapoag Pond Master Plan & Fisherman’s Cove Improvements
Department of Conservation and Recreation is creating a Master Plan for Ponkapoag Pond, which includes improving the parking at Fisherman's Cove and building a new bog board walk. The plan also calls for signage at entrances to the park in Randolph. The Department of...
Fires in the Blue Hills this Spring
A number of wildfires have burned in the Blue Hills recently, disrupting some visitors' plans and requiring state and local fire resources. The fires, however, may have delivered some benefits to the Blue Hills fire-dependent ecosystems. In the last month, three...
Action Alert: Invest in Our Parks
Please urge your state representative to increase investment in our state parks through the FY23 state budget. The need for investment in our parks system has been apparent for years, but has become more urgent as the Commonwealth struggles to respond to accelerating...
Invasive Species Bill Moves Out of Committee
Thanks to our members and partners... the Invasive Species Bill is moving out of Committee! The Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture passed the Invasive Species bill out of committee. Thank you to everyone who responded to the action...
Action Alert: Invasive Species Bill
Today you have a chance to better protect native habitats in the Blue Hills -- and throughout the state. There is currently a bill that is before the the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Environment that would could help better control invasives...
Friends’ Members Work to Improve Dangerous Crossing of Route 28 for Skyline Trail Hikers
Have you ever climbed Buck Hill to enjoy the exhilarating 360-degree view, only to descend the Skyline Trail and experience fear and frustration trying to cross the stream of cars racing along Route 28? As Randolph Town Councilor Jesse Gordon says, “crossing Route 28...
Poo-lution Solution
Most people have noticed at least a few poop bags littering the Blue Hills' trails. But most people do not know that dog waste - in and out of a bag - is more than just a smelly annoyance. Dog waste in the park is an environmental pollutant that contaminates our...
The Friends Partners with Local Groups to Advocate for Public Transportation Study
One hundred years ago the Blue Hills Reservation was created as a haven for city dwellers wanting to escape from the stress of urban life. At that time people could conveniently hop on trolleys that originated in Mattapan and other Boston neighborhoods to travel to...
Protect the Blue Hills TODAY (Wednesday, April 13th)!
Write or call your state senator to protect public lands. Act today to Protect the Blue Hills As you may know, our public land, including the Blue Hills, is vulnerable to ‘land exchanges.’ With a two-thirds vote of each branch of the legislature, our...
Survey and Save the Forest!
By volunteering just a few hours, you will make a big difference to the Blue Hills! What is 'Survey and Save the Forest'? Survey and Save the Forest is a project to survey the most destructive invasive plants at Ponkapoag Pond so we can develop a management...
Take Action: Protect our Parks from Bad Electric Bike Policy
We’ve recently learned that DCR is on the verge of a regulation change that would allow Class 1 electric bicycles access to all DCR trails currently open to traditional mountain bikes. Please send an email to the below elected officials to make sure that DCR develops...
New Interpretive Sign in the Blue Hills Reservation Honoring the 1930’s Civilian Conservation Corps
Photo by Ryan Hutton/DCR From left, DCR Visitor Services Supervisor Maggi Brown, DCR Ecologist Ale Echandi, State Senator Walter Timility, DCR Commissioner Jim Montgomery, Friends of the Blue Hills Board President Matt Panucci, Friends of the Blue Hills Executive...
Help Protect Skyline Trail Hikers
Please sign our petition if you care about making the Blue Hills safe and the trails accessible for everyone who wants to hike the Skyline Trail. Anyone who has tried to follow the Skyline Trail across Routes 28 and 138 knows how dangerous it is to cross these...
Action Alert for Trailside, Observatory and all State Parks
Please take a moment TODAY to make a big difference to the Blue Hills. This week a legislative committee is creating the state budget by comparing the two budgets created by the House and Senate. Significant funding for the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, the Blue Hill...
Action Alert: Call Your Legislator to Support Our Parks
You can help make sure that our parks – including the Blue Hills - receive the funding that they need. Take Action Please call your legislators and urge them to include the Department of Conservation and Recreation as one of their top budget priorities.  To find your...
Creating a Coalition for a Better Blue Hills
Historic buildings crumbling, no lease security and inadequate funding… these are the issues that we will work to address with other Blue Hills organizations as part of the new Coalition for a Better Blue Hills. The Friends of the Blue Hills has brought together Blue...