DCR has just sent out a notice of a public meeting for the Fells Trails Plan. Here's the details:

When: Monday, September 20th, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where: McGlynn School Auditorium, 3004 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford, MA
Directions: The above published address does not map correctly to the school. The McGlynn school is immediately adjacent to the west of Hormel Stadium. Directions from the Medford, MA Schools site here

We hope that DCR will be presenting the draft plan they previewed to a small group this past May - including NEMBA - but we really don't know. The key issue is going to be that we also expect that they will announce a 'fast-track' RMP for the Fells as all the conservation groups have been beating DCR over the head with the literal interpretation of the law mandating that DCR perform RMP's for all the lands they manage. And as noted before, that law *does not* have language prohibiting DCR from making *policy* changes in the parks and lands they manage. They are using the RMP law as a tool to tie DCR's hands - which is inappropriate. The relevant law can be found here: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/21-2f.htm

In light of the RMP liklihood, NEMBA has been lobbying for the following immediate policy changes, all of which are rational, easy to implement and supportive of increased equitable access at the Fells:

• Make Orange Trail Shared Use
• Winter closure March 1 - 31
• More marked loops using existing trails

Action Item 1: GET YOURSELF AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS TO THIS MEETING ON 9/20

Action Item 2: Re-contact your elected officials and urge them to lobby DCR to make the above policy changes at the Fells immediately. Find your elected officials here

Action Item 3: Contact Commissioner Sullivan at 617-626-4990 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and urge him to enact the above changes.

I can't say it any plainer than that. This is going to be a lively meeting. We need numbers. We need voices. Tell everyone you know. We had an overwhelming 4:1 presence at the last public meeting on the Fells in February. We need even more at this one.

This is a long process and it's easy to get discouraged. We're still hoping to see good things. We believe DCR knows what the right thing to do is. This meeting will show us whether they can act on that in clear and immediate ways.