ACCESS NEWS Integrating People of All Abilities into State Parks www.mass.gov/dcr/universal_access Winter/Spring 2009

Winter Festival at DCR’s Dunn Pond In this issue Break out of the house and come to on Saturday, February 7, for • Winter Festival a great day! Join in sled hockey, skating, cross-country skiing, kicksledding, • New Ice Sled snowmobile rides, letterboxing and more. Refreshments, games and Locations lighthearted contests will cure your cabin fever. 11AM – 4PM. • Winter Program Snow date Sunday, February 15. Call 617-626-1294 to pre-register. Schedule • Spring Happenings • Notes from the Director • Summer Recreation Fair

Universal Access Program Office DCR Central Region Headquarters, PO Box 484 Amherst, MA 01004 413-545-5353 Sled Hockey at DCR’s Dunn State Park. Snowmobile rides at DCR’s Dunn State Park. 413-577-2200TTY

More Sled Skating Locations Around State The purchase of additional sled-skating equipment has allowed DCR’s Universal Access Program to provide ice sleds to 11 new rink locations. Boston and eastern Massachusetts now have numerous opportunities for accessible skating during public skating hours. Thanks to FMC Arenas for welcoming people with disabilities with seated skates. Please see the chart on page 2 for the closest rink near you and take a glide on the ice this winter! Sleds should be in place by February. Call ahead to confirm sled availability. Ice skating at the Collins/Moylan Rink.

To request this newsletter on cassette tape, assistive listening equipment or American Sign Language interpretation for Massachusetts park programs, please call 413-545-5353 voice or 413-577-2200 TTY. Winter 2009 Calendar

Indoor Skating Programs Boston: (North End) Steriti Rink Join us for accessible ice skating programs! Tuesday, February 17: 1 – 3PM Variable minimal fees may apply for both rink Sunday, March 8: 2 – 5PM admission and conventional skates, usually less than $5 person. All programs take place during Hyde Park: Bajko Rink public skating hours, and instruction and support Sunday, February 22: 12 – 3:30PM are provided as needed. Medford: Flynn Rink Brockton: John G. Asiaf Skating Rink Sunday, March 1: 12 – 1:50PM Saturdays: 2:30 – 4:30PM January 3, January 17, January 31, February 21 Quincy: Shea Rink Sunday, January 25: 2 – 3:50PM Greenfield: Collins Moylan Skating Rink Friday, January 23: 1 –3PM Springfield: Smead Arena Wednesday, February 11: 1 – 3PM Wednesdays : 11AM – 1PM, January 14, February 25

Ice Sled Locations New locations indicated in bold text, sleds (#) in place by February 1st. Rink admission fees may apply. Location Rink Name Address Phone Sleds Auburn Horgan 400 Oxford Street North 508-832-7201 (2) Cambridge Simoni 155 Gore Street 617-354-9523 (3) Boston – Brighton Daly Nonantum Road 617-527-1741 1 Boston – Hyde Park Bajko 75 Turtle Pond Pkwy 617-364-9188 (2) Boston – North End Steriti 561 Commercial Street 617-523-9327 (2) Brockton Asiaf Forest Avenue Extension 508-583-6804 3 Franklin Pirelli/Vets 910 Panther Way 508-541-7024 (2) Greenfield Collins/Moylan Barr Avenue 413-772-6891 2 Holyoke Fitzpatrick 575 Maple Street 413-532-2929 4 Medford Flynn Woodland Road 781-395-8492 (2) Milton Ulin 11 Unquity Road 617-696-9869 (2) Newburyport Graf 28 Low Street 978-462-8112 1 North Adams Vietnam Vets 1010 South Church St. 413-664-8185 2 Plymouth Armstrong 103 Long Pond Road 508-746-8825 (2) Quincy Shea 651 Willard Street 617-472-9325 (2) Revere Cronin 850 Parkway 781-284-9491 (2) Springfield Smead 1780 Roosevelt Ave. 413-781-2599 4 Taunton Alexio 1 Gordon Owen Riverway 508-824-4987 (2)

2 Winter 2009 Calendar

Outdoor Recreation Programs D.A.R. State Forest Come enjoy the great outdoors! Instruction, Route 112, Goshen adaptive equipment and assistance provided at no Snowshoeing, kicksledding and cross-country charge. At parks with ski concessions, skiing as conditions permit, or hiking, nature conventional equipment is available for rent at interpretation and campfire activities without fees indicated. Activities are listed under each snow. location. Statewide locations are listed in Tuesday, January 27 alphabetical order. All programs take place from Tuesday, March 10 11AM to 3PM except for Weston (12 – 4PM) and Blackstone (10AM – 3PM). Mt. Tom State Reservation Reservation Road, Holyoke Before You Go Snowshoeing, kicksledding, cross-country skiing 1. Pre-registration is required! and ice skating as conditions permit. Get onto the snow sooner when you arrive at Letterboxing, hiking, and nature activities always the park! Come with your waiver filled out. an option. Sunday, January 18 For DAR, and Weston: call Outdoor Access Wednesday, January 28 (formerly Venture Into Well-Being) Wednesday, February 18 413-259-0009. For all other winter recreation and skating programs, call All Out Adventures at 413-527-8980. Montague Rd., Wendell 2. In the event of inclement weather: Wendell will satisfy your wild side! Cross-country Call the following numbers for recorded skiing, snowshoeing, kicksledding, ice skating, messages as to program status: sled hockey, letterboxing, geocaching and snow- Eastern Massachusetts: 617-626-1294 mobile rides as weather and conditions permit. : 413-545-5758 Saturdays: January 10, January 24, 3. If you need to cancel or are running late: February 14, February 28 Call the vendors listed above and let them know. Weston Ski Track, Leo J. Martin Golf Course, Weston Snow is usually guaranteed at the only cross- country ski site in Massachusetts that makes Blackstone River Heritage State Park snow! The multi-use 2-kilometer trail on moder- 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge ate terrain allows everyone to enjoy cross-country Maple sugar tour in the morning, followed by a skiing, kicksledding and snowshoeing. Outdoor quest for maple sugaring stamps hidden in Access provides a safe and enjoyable experience letterboxes near Riverbend Farm. Taste the for all. If you need to rent skis, poles and boots, sweetness, watch how it’s made and collect there will be a fee of $15 for adults, $11 for teens artistic souvenirs. aged 13-16, and $8 for kids 12 and younger. Free Sunday, March 15 trail pass for all Universal Access Program partici- pants. Call 413-269-0009 to register. Sundays: 12 – 4PM (NEW TIME) February 1, February 8, February 15, February 22, March 1 3 Spring 2009 Happenings

Birding Join DCR Universal Access Program staff on excursions to investigate bird life in the Connecticut River Valley. Binoculars and scopes are available for use as are portable folding chairs, large print field guides, monopods and listening devices. 10AM – 12noon. Call 413-545-5758 to register. Saturday, March 14 Great Falls Discovery Center/Turners Falls Saturday, April 25 Norwottuck Rail Trail, Amherst Kicksledding at DCR’s D.A.R. State Forest. Saturday, May 16 Mt. Tom State Reservation, Holyoke

Hiking Take a hike with Outdoor Access! Explore accessible trails and rugged paths with a focus on fun and meeting new people. Assistive equipment and teamwork unite people of all abilities using Terra Trek mountain wheelchairs, push joggers and lots of stops to rest. Bring a lunch and enjoy activities such as scavenger hunts, nature talks, letterboxing and collecting Passport Stamps of the parks. Sighted guides available. Limited transportation – call 413-259-0009 to inquire.

Cross-country ski team at DCR’s Mt. Tom State Reservation. $2 per person, $4 for families, $10 for groups. Unless otherwise noted all photos by Marcy Marchello. Programs run 11AM - 3PM.

Tuesday, April 28 Mt. Tom State Reservation, Holyoke Wednesday, May 20 , Sharon Tuesday, June 2 , Pittsfield Tuesday, June 16 , Saugus Monday, June 22 State Reservation, Concord

Letterbox stamp.

4 Spring 2009 Happenings

Letterboxing Tuesday, April 21 Fishing Join All Out Adventures for Mt. Tom State Reservation, Fishing Clinic exploration and Holyoke, 11AM – 3PM Wednesday, May 27 “treasure hunting” in the Friday, April 24 9AM – 12noon Connecticut River Valley. Carry Great Falls Discovery Center, Dunn State Park a small notepad and a rubber Turners Falls, 11AM – 3PM Call 413-545-5758 to register. stamp and search for letterboxes Friday, May 1 The MassWildlife Angler by following clues. Leave your Norwottuck Rail Trail, Hadley Education Program uses many mark at letterboxes and 2 – 6PM DCR parks for fishing clinics discover many hand-carved and festivals and provides Wednesday, May 13 images to stamp in your book! adaptive fishing equipment. DAR State Forest, Goshen We’ll also provide instruction Contact Jim Lagacy at 11AM – 3PM on how to use GPS units to find 508-799-7270 ext. 109 for geocaches – hidden containers Tuesday, June 9 a schedule. with swappable items inside. Mt. Sugarloaf State Reservation Learn more about these two Deerfield, 2 – 6PM intriguing pastimes that attract *Universal Access Letterboxes people of all ages. Call All Out are set up for the entire season. Adventures to register at

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Notes from the opening our rich, natural resources in Director Massachusetts to everyone, regardless of ability. Too often we find ourselves focusing on the Tom McCarthy work that still needs to be done. Although we Good News Travels Far and Wide have much work before us to ensure that all of This past year we have received numerous requests the great experiences available in our parks are to talk about our universally accessible outdoor accessible to everyone, it is good to be reminded recreation in Massachusetts state parks. From both of how far we've come. inside the United States and as far away as the Leaders around this country and around the European Union, park and recreational profession- world have identified the kind of recreation that als, leaders in tourism and educators at colleges we provide as a key component in solving have been calling on DCR’s Universal Access important social issues. Those include creating Program staff to share our experience and successes healthy lifestyles and reducing health care costs, in the world of adaptive recreation. building self-esteem and self-worth toward We don't often think of ourselves as leaders in the higher levels of employment among people with world of outdoor recreation, but as these requests disabilities, developing skills that will translate to speak about and present our work to other pro- into independent living and the cost savings fessionals come in, we are reminded that in the that result. Sometimes we forget how more than 12 years that the Universal Access important our work is because, let's face it, it is a Program has existed, we have made great strides in lot of fun. 5 DCR Access News Winter/Spring 2009 PRSRT First Class Mass. Dept. of Conservation and Recreation U.S. POSTAGE Universal Access Program PAID 251 Causeway Street, Suite 600 BOSTON, MA Boston, MA 02114 PERMIT #51544 Special Events: Details Inside

DUNN Winter Festival DCR’s Dunn State Park, Gardner Saturday, February 7, 11AM – 4PM

Summer Recreation Fair DCR’s Artesani Park Brighton (Boston) Saturday, June 6, 10AM – 3PM DCR ACCESS NEWS

The Universal Access Program is part of the Massachusetts Summer Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Recreation Fair DCR oversees 450,000 acres of parks and forests, beaches, bike DCR’s Artesani Park, Brighton (Boston) trails, watersheds, and dams, in addition to 278 bridges and miles of roadways. Led by Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr., Saturday, June 6, 10AM – 3PM. the agency’s mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our Kick off next summer with park festivities and common wealth of natural, cultural, and explore possibilities for outdoor recreation! recreational resources. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, Try out adaptive bikes and hiking equipment. and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr, or contact us Get your face painted, listen to a DJ, visit with at [email protected].

friends and look around. Go on a treasure hunt Wheelchair tandem, for letterboxes and geocaches. Sign up for a wide known as the “Duet”. array of summer opportunities, such as kayaking, sailing and hiking in the Boston area and beyond. Cool off in the spray pool. Information on where Deval L. Patrick, Governor to purchase bikes included. This event is free and Timothy P. Murray, Lt. Governor open to the public. Refreshments provided. Ian A. Bowles, Secretary Richard K. Sullivan, Jr., Commissioner Pre-register by calling 617-626-1294. Print Date December 2008