STONEHAM—State Senator Jason Lewis recently joined the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Friends of the Middlesex Fells, and other local organizations and residents to celebrate the launch of Be Kind!, a new public awareness campaign encouraging visitors to the state park system to act with kindness – toward the people around them, park staff, and the plants and animals that call these spaces home.
Senator Lewis along with State Representative Paul Donato are the co-founders and co-chairs of the Middlesex Fells Caucus in the state legislature. The Caucus advocates for resources and programs to support the sustainable use and enjoyment of the Middlesex Fells by all residents of our communities. The Caucus secured state funding that enabled the development of the Be Kind! campaign.
Senator Lewis and Representative Donato joined DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo and leaders from the Friends of the Fells, the Friends of the Blue Hills, and the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) in the Middlesex Fells Reservation for the launch.
“The Middlesex Fells and all our state parks are an incredible resource for people of all ages to enjoy, but that requires that we show respect toward one another and the natural environment,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “I’m very grateful to my colleagues in the Middlesex Fells Caucus, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Friends of the Middlesex Fells, and Friends of the Blue Hills for their efforts in developing and launching the Be Kind! public awareness campaign.”
The Be Kind! public awareness campaign encourages all park visitors – whether hiking, biking, or walking their dogs– to contribute to a culture of shared stewardship in our state parks. The campaign suggests behaviors that park visitors can employ to ensure they are being respectful of one another and of our natural environment. These suggested actions will be displayed on signs in English and Spanish at trailheads in the Middlesex Fells and Blue Hills Reservations. Specifically, Be Kind! encourages people to:
- Listen for other people on trails and make space for others to pass;
- Keep dogs leashed outside of designated off-leash areas;
- Leave no trace of litter or waste; and
- Stay on the trails – on foot, paw, or bike.
“I am thrilled to support such a wonderful movement as Be Kind!” said State Representative Paul Donato. “Not only will this movement serve as a reminder to protect our parks, but it will also prompt the community to come together to respect the places we love. Being mindful of the impacts we make as a society will allow us to make positive changes to the spaces that contribute to our homes.”
“We are committed to providing our communities with access to natural, recreational, and cultural resources, and we all have a role to play in their stewardship,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “The goal of the Be Kind! campaign is to inspire park visitors to take an active role in making these spaces welcoming and preserving them for generations to come.”
“We are proud to be part of advancing this effort and look forward to incorporating the Be Kind! brand into upcoming stewardship events,” said Friends of the Fells Executive Director Chris Redfern. “The positive messages in the Be Kind! campaign will provide an upbeat reminder of why our members are giving back to our public spaces.”
The Be Kind! campaign was developed in partnership with the Friends of the Middlesex Fells and the Friends of the Blue Hills. To learn more about the Be Kind! campaign visit https://www.mass.gov/guides/be-kind-massachusetts and follow the hashtags #BeKindMA /
