Connecticut River Greenway State Park
Encyclopedia
Connecticut River Greenway State Park consists of a number of separate state land holdings in the Pioneer Valley
of western Massachusetts. The park includes critical wildlife and plant habitat as well as areas providing public access to the Connecticut River
. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
(formerly the Department of Environmental Management) acquired most of the parcels over the past twenty years, adding on to earlier state holdings including Mount Tom State Reservation
, Mount Holyoke Range State Park
and Skinner State Park.
Much of the DCR's land acquisition for this park was spearheaded by staff person Terry Blunt, of whom the Director of State Parks and Recreation, Priscilla Geigis, said, "It's really been his leadership and his vision and his drive that has helped to coordinate so many different entities, landowners, towns, organizations, to come together and protect this very special place."
The Connecticut River Greenway State Park is intertwined with other protected land including farmland under state-held agricultural preservation restrictions (a type of conservation easement
), municipal and conservation land trust
holdings, and state and national wildlife refuges.
Pioneer Valley
The Pioneer Valley is the colloquial name for the U.S. Commonwealth of Massachusetts's portion of the Connecticut River Valley. The Pioneer Valley consists of three counties in Massachusetts which collectively feature much of New England's most fertile farmland...
of western Massachusetts. The park includes critical wildlife and plant habitat as well as areas providing public access to the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...
(formerly the Department of Environmental Management) acquired most of the parcels over the past twenty years, adding on to earlier state holdings including Mount Tom State Reservation
Mount Tom State Reservation
The Mount Tom State Reservation, , encompasses the Mount Tom Range and is located in the Connecticut River Valley region of Massachusetts, just north of the city of Springfield....
, Mount Holyoke Range State Park
Mount Holyoke Range State Park
The Mount Hoyoke Range State Park of the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts, encompasses the eastern half of the Holyoke Range to traprock mountains. The park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation...
and Skinner State Park.
Much of the DCR's land acquisition for this park was spearheaded by staff person Terry Blunt, of whom the Director of State Parks and Recreation, Priscilla Geigis, said, "It's really been his leadership and his vision and his drive that has helped to coordinate so many different entities, landowners, towns, organizations, to come together and protect this very special place."
The Connecticut River Greenway State Park is intertwined with other protected land including farmland under state-held agricultural preservation restrictions (a type of conservation easement
Conservation easement
In the United States, a conservation easement is an encumbrance — sometimes including a transfer of usage rights — which creates a legally enforceable land preservation agreement between a landowner and a government agency or a qualified land...
), municipal and conservation land trust
Land trust
There are two distinct definitions of a land trust:* a private, nonprofit organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition, or by its stewardship of such land or easements; or* an agreement...
holdings, and state and national wildlife refuges.
River access points
- Pauchaug, NorthfieldNorthfield, MassachusettsNorthfield is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,951 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
: one mile north of Northfield Center on Rte. 63. Paved parking area and ramp which can accommodate canoes and motorboats. - Barton Cove, GillGill, MassachusettsGill is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 1,363 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
: Rte 2 east of Turners FallsTurners Falls, MassachusettsTurners Falls is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Montague in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,441 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. Paved parking and ramp for motorboats or canoes. - Sunderland: north side of Sunderland BridgeSunderland Bridge (Massachusetts)The Sunderland Bridge is a crossing over the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts, connecting the towns of South Deerfield and Sunderland, carrying Massachusetts Route 116.-History and construction of the bridge:...
in SunderlandSunderland, MassachusettsSunderland is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, part of the Pioneer Valley. The population was 3,777 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Canoe and fishing access. Limited parking. - Hatfield: HatfieldHatfield, MassachusettsHatfield is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,249 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
one mile north of the center. Canoes and shallow draft lightweight boats. - Elwell Recreation Area, NorthamptonNorthampton, MassachusettsThe city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
: Damon Road at Route 9 and I-91Interstate 91Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
. Canoe and rowing only. Wheelchair accessible dock on the river. Limited parking. - Oxbow Ramp, EasthamptonEasthampton, MassachusettsEasthampton is the second largest city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is on the southeastern edge of an area called the Pioneer Valley near the five colleges in the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, MA...
: Interstate 91Interstate 91Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
to exit 18 south on Rte. 5U.S. Route 5U.S. Route 5 is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St...
in Easthampton. Thirty-five parking spaces and a paved ramp. Customarily used by high powered recreational craft and larger fishing boats. - South Hadley/Chicopee Boat Access: James St. downstream from the Holyoke dam. Gravel ramp for shallow draft fishing boats. Popular during shad fishing season.
- Chicopee Boat Access, ChicopeeChicopee, MassachusettsChicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 55,298, making it the second largest city in...
: Shallow, moderate and deep draft recreational and fishing boats. Easy canoe and rowing shell access.