Improving Walkability at D.W. Field Park

By Maddie Luongo

Maddie Luongo is a senior at Wheaton College. This summer, she served as an intern with Wildlands Trust, assisting Green Team Brockton with various stewardship projects and organizing our 50th anniversary raffles. 

Green Team crewmembers with Iolando Spinola (center) of WalkMassachusetts.

On August 15, members of the 2023 Green Team participated in a walking audit of D.W. Field Park in Brockton. A walking audit is an assessment of the accessibility and walkability of an outdoor space, and for somewhere with as much foot traffic as D.W. Field Park, it is an integral step in the restoration planning process. 

The audit was conducted by Iolando Spinola of WalkMassachusetts, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make walking safer and easier for people in all types of outdoor spaces. Having grown up in Brockton, Spinola was personally familiar with D.W. Field Park and its amenities. Spinola instructed the Green Team by assigning crewmembers specific tasks, such as assessing the condition of the roads and walkways, counting benches, and evaluating park signage. Despite the rainy day, the Green Team was attentive to their tasks, photographing potential problem areas in the park and discussing their findings with each other. 

Iolando Spinola of WalkMassachusetts leads the Green Team in a walking audit of D.W. Field Park.

One of the keys to a successful walk audit is the people conducting it. As residents of Brockton, the Green Team was familiar with the area and, through this paid summer service-learning program, had already worked on other projects in D.W. Field Park. The walk audit gave the kids an opportunity to view the park through a new and more inclusive lens, attuning them to some of the park’s finer details. This skill can serve crewmembers well in many of their future endeavors. 

Spinola spoke highly of the walk audit as a whole, but also of the Green Team members specifically. “I thought the walking audit was a great way to get a sense of the accessibility and overall walkability of D.W. Field Park,” he said. “The park has a lot to offer, but there are also some areas that could be improved. For example, the sidewalks are uneven in some places, the entrance of the park could be redesigned to ensure pedestrians are safe, and there could be more wayfinding signs to improve the user experience of the paths and park. The park also lacks some basic amenities, such as accessible restrooms, drinking fountains, and bike racks. I loved that the Green Team youth group was working to improve the park throughout the summer and took part in our walk audit. They are super inspiring and had great insights on how to improve the park.” 

As part of the walking audit, Green Team members measured vehicle speed along a roadway in D.W. Field Park.

When pursuing sustainable development, accessibility is crucial to consider. Accessibility and sustainability are intertwined in important ways that few people consider unless they directly apply to them. “Accessibility is important to sustainable development because it ensures that everyone, regardless of their abilities and background, can participate fully in society and in our public spaces,” Spinola said. “When people are able to access the same opportunities, services, and resources, it creates a more equitable and inclusive society. Our public spaces are richer and more enjoyable when we can all fully live and utilize them. Sustainable development is about creating a better future for everyone, and accessibility is about ensuring that everyone has the same opportunities to participate in that future. When we design our communities and infrastructure with accessibility in mind, we make them more sustainable for everyone.” 

The D.W. Field Park Initiative is working to create these equal opportunities in Brockton, so that all residents of Brockton can easily access the amenities of D.W. Field Park. It takes projects such as those the Green Team worked on this summer to bring these ideas to fruition, and it is vital that young Brockton residents lend their voices and visions to this effort.  

Green Team members walk down a damp path at D.W. Field Park.

On a personal note, watching Green Team members participate in the improvement of their city was deeply motivating. It even inspired me to conduct similar projects on my college campus. I am incredibly grateful to these dedicated youth for their hard work, and I can’t wait to see how future Green Team projects advance the sustainable mindset in D.W. Field Park and beyond. 

Thank you to Maddie for her many contributions to Wildlands this summer. To learn more about the D.W. Field Park Initiative, visit wildlandstrust.org/dwfieldpark. To learn more about Green Team, visit wildlandstrust.org/green-team. 

Wildlands Trust to Host Public Celebration for 50th Anniversary

Music, food, drinks, owls headline festivities at conservation nonprofit’s Plymouth headquarters

By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator

Davis-Douglas Farm in Plymouth will host Wildlands Trust’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 23.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Plymouth, MA — On September 23, 2023, Wildlands Trust will hold its 50th Anniversary Celebration at Davis-Douglas Farm in Plymouth. The event is expected to attract over 300 people to the Wildlands headquarters, where live music, local food and drinks, guided hikes and property tours, wildlife presentations, raffles, and more will serve to honor the people and places that have helped the regional nonprofit land trust reach a half-century in operation.  

“This celebration is about honoring the people who helped Wildlands Trust reach this milestone,” said Wildlands President Karen Grey. “So many people contributed in remarkable ways because they believed in our mission, and that is the reason we will come together on September 23.” Accordingly, a photo and video gallery at the event will highlight 50 key Wildlands partners and volunteers. 

True to Wildlands’ mission, event attendees will have multiple opportunities to learn about the unique landscapes of Southeastern Massachusetts and the diverse wildlife that calls them home. A bird walk, led by Brian Vigorito of the South Shore Bird Club, will take avian-inclined guests on a quest for feathered life at Emery Preserve, directly across Long Pond Road from Davis-Douglas Farm. Another hike will guide attendees to Emery Preserve’s Beech Tree Clearing, and Wildlands Board Chair Sam Chapin will lead a history tour of Davis-Douglas Farm. Bird lovers will also have the chance to get up close and personal with live owls, courtesy of Marcia and Mark Wilson of Eyes on Owls. The Mobile Fish & Wildlife Exhibit, an ecological education trailer operated by the Town of Plymouth Department of Marine and Environmental Affairs, will put additional natural specimens on display.  

Local food and live music will give the anniversary celebration a lively, family-friendly atmosphere. Two food trucks, Alden Park-ed and the Filling Station, will offer guests sandwiches and other lunch options. Independent Fermentations Brewing will sell craft beer and kombucha, including Wildlands Eel River Rye, a specially designed 50th anniversary ale. Musical performances will include the Louise Adams Acoustic Duo of Tupelo Honey and the Pan Loco Steel Band. 

Multiple raffles will give attendees the chance to win a variety of local goods and services. A kayak from Billington Sea Kayak headlines a long list of prizes donated by artists and businesses throughout the region.  

Wildlands will also debut its other anniversary initiatives at the event. A new trail guide featuring Wildlands-owned and -associated properties, as well as a book honoring the 50 key Wildlands partners, will be for sale. Live demonstrations of Wildlands trail maps on mobile apps will offer guests a new way to explore the region. 

The celebration is open to the public, but every attendee will leave the event as a Wildlands member. For those new to the Trust, a six-month membership is included with the price of admission ($20 online; $25 at the door, capacity permitting). Admission also includes a Wildlands 50th anniversary beer mug, tote bag, and sticker; a ticket for the basket raffles; and a half-pint of Hornstra Farms trail-mix-flavored ice cream, while supplies last. Children aged 14 and under attend for free if accompanied by an adult. 

The celebration will last from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For a full list of activities and vendors, visit wildlandstrust.org/events/50th-anniversary-celebration 

About Wildlands Trust: Wildlands Trust is one of the largest and oldest regional land trusts in Massachusetts. Since 1973, the Plymouth-based nonprofit has helped protect nearly 14,000 acres of natural and agricultural land across Southeastern Massachusetts, keeping local communities healthy and connected to the natural world. Visit wildlandstrust.org for more details. 

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Wildlands Bids Farewell to Wendy Jones

By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator

In July, Wildlands bid farewell to our beloved Office Manager, Wendy Jones. After six years deftly balancing her Wildlands role with an assessor position for the Town of Plympton, Wendy has opted for a simpler work life, becoming the full-time Principal Assessor with the Town of Whitman. We will miss Wendy’s kind and calming presence around the office, and wish her the best in this next chapter of her career! 

“My favorite part of working at Wildlands was not only the pleasant environment, but working with dedicated staff, volunteers, and board members who are committed to accomplishing rewarding work in land protection,” Wendy said. “It may sound a little corny, but it’s true! Also, each property has its own unique attributes and challenges, and the Wildlands staff is adept at handling all situations. Sometimes you never know what kind of call or email you receive from the public—and there are some interesting ones!” 

Wendy’s path to Wildlands was long and winding, yet fueled at every step by a passion for learning and a commitment to her family. After an early foray into the legal field, Wendy pivoted to public television, where she worked for 15 years on PBS science documentary programs like Scientific American Frontiers and Audubon. After traveling extensively for a project with Harvard University, Wendy prepared for a closer-to-home career while juggling the roles of mom, student, and professional. She began managing a commercial property on Cape Cod and working toward an appraiser license, which led her to become a Massachusetts Accredited Assessor (MAA). Somehow, these various experiences brought Wendy to Wildlands—and we couldn’t be happier that they did. 

“For the past six years, we have all marveled at Wendy’s masterful ability to carry out two part-time jobs, each with a considerable workload and tremendous responsibility,” said Wildlands President Karen Grey. “She never missed a beat. Wendy is dedicated and conscientious and has always dropped whatever she is doing to help any one of us in need. With Wendy, it is not what she does, but how she does it. We will miss her tremendously.” 

We couldn’t let Wendy go without a feast. Last month, Wildlands staff convened after work in the Conservation Barn to share laughs, memories, and well wishes with Wendy over tacos and cake. In recognition of her dedication to the Trust, Wendy received a Yeti cooler, stocked with wine. 

Thank you, Wendy, for your immense contributions to Wildlands Trust!  

Resources: Advancing Racial Equity in Southeastern MA and Beyond

On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, legally freeing millions of enslaved African Americans in Confederate states. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, however, that African Americans in Texas were truly freed. Though declared a federal holiday only in 2021, Juneteenth has been celebrated in certain Black communities for more than 150 years to celebrate the effective end of slavery in the United States. 

In honor of Juneteenth, the Wildlands Trust staff compiled a preliminary list of resources, businesses, and partners that residents of our service region and beyond can access and support to better understand and advance racial equity, especially in the natural spaces we cherish. This list is far from exhaustive and will be updated as new resources emerge and partnerships arise.  

Suggestions for our list? Tell us in the comments at the end of this article! 

Black-owned businesses 

Brockton Beer Company | 121 Main Street, Brockton, MA 

• Support Brockton Beer Company for great food, drinks, programs, and people. Per their website: “Brockton Beer Company is proud to be the 6th Black-owned brewery in Massachusetts and is also proud to identify as Asian-owned and classified as a minority-owned business.” Brockton Beer Company has been a faithful supporter of our D.W. Field Park Initiative. Wildlands Trust was proud to sponsor their recent one-year anniversary festival. 

Affinity groups and community non-profits 

Conservationists of Color 

• According to their website, “the launch of the Conservationists of Color affinity group was a grassroots and organic response to the lack of spaces for practitioners of color within the land conservation movement.” Explore their own resources page here. 

Books and articles 

Black Spaces, White Faces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney 

• According to her website, “Carolyn Finney, PhD is a storyteller, author and a cultural geographer who is deeply interested in issues related to identity, difference, creativity, and resilience. The aim of her work is to develop greater cultural competency within environmental organizations and institutions, challenge media outlets on their representation of difference, and increase awareness of how privilege shapes who gets to speak to environmental issues and determine policy and action.” Carolyn currently serves as an artist-in-residence in the Franklin Environmental Center at Middlebury College in Vermont. She also delivered the keynote address at the 2021 Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference, whose theme was “Building a Stronger Land Movement through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” 

The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham 

• J. Drew Lanham is an author, poet, and conservation biologist at Clemson University. In 2013, he wrote “9 Rules for the Black Birdwatcher,” which brought national attention to the struggles that Black bird lovers face in natural spaces. (Check out the video version by BirdNote here.) He expanded on these challenges in his 2016 article, “Birding While Black.” 

Films 

“Mardi and the Whites” by Paula Champagne (11 minutes) 

• Mardi Fuller loves spending time in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. But as a Black woman, imbedding herself in the region’s predominantly white recreator community presents unique challenges. In this short film, Mardi highlights the importance of racial education and awareness for white people, especially in natural spaces. 

Podcasts 

Always be birdin’ by Samantha DeJarnett (27 episodes) 

• From the podcast description: “Birds are extremely awesome. But birding can be intimidating and difficult. Always Be Birdin' aims to change the narrative of birding. How we bird, where we bird and who is birding. Join me as I go out into the field with BIPOC birding experts, novice baby birders like myself and nature enthusiasts to do some chaotic, goofy birding while dropping a knowledge bomb or two to show that no matter what, you can Always Be Birdin'.” 

 Social media 

Alexis Nikole Nelson, a.k.a. Black Forager 

• TikTok: alexisnikole | Instagram: blackforager |Facebook: BlackForager | Twitter: @blackforager 

• If you enjoy botany, foraging, or, well, joy, check out Alexis Nikole Nelson’s work. Not a social media fan? Watch her TED Talk here. 

Local Black history 

Parting Ways was a Black settlement in North Plymouth, founded in 1792 by four former enslaved people who had fought in the American Revolutionary War. The 94 acres along Plympton Street were granted through an agreement with the town of Plymouth that whoever could clear the land could claim ownership of it. For an in-depth account, read this article by regional historian Benjamin Cronin. 

• To learn more about enslaved life in our state and region, visit the Eleven Names Project. 

Peter J. Gomes (1942-2011) was an influential Black preacher and professor at Harvard University. After coming out as gay in 1991, the reverend spent the rest of his career combatting religious arguments in support of homophobia, racism, and other intolerance. Gomes grew up in Plymouth, where his father, born in the Cape Verde Islands, was a cranberry bog worker. He graduated from Plymouth High School in 1961 before attending Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Read his 1992 op-ed in the New York Times here. 

Check back for updates!

Leadership Council Honored at New Stewardship Training Center

By Kyla Isakson, Membership and Digital Media Coordinator 

Leadership Council members gather around the Stewardship Training Center front gardens to listen to remarks by Board Chair Sam Chapin and President Karen Grey.

On Thursday, June 8, Wildlands Trust welcomed over 60 Leadership Council members to explore our recent 30-acre acquisition on Halfway Pond in Plymouth. The reception honored those who have contributed major gifts this year. We were so happy to host this wonderful group and show them our deep appreciation for their generous support. 

After a hearty breakfast in our new Stewardship Training Center (STC), guests were ushered out to the blooming front gardens to hear from Board Chair Sam Chapin and President Karen Grey. Sam shared some wonderful knowledge about the property and the area surrounding beautiful Halfway Pond. Karen followed to detail the immense growth that Wildlands has experienced over the last 50 years, and how much more there is to look forward to, starting with establishing the STC to improve the skills, knowledge, and capacity of the land stewardship community in Massachusetts. Following these uplifting speeches, Leadership Council members had the opportunity to intermingle, take a short tour around the property led by our stewardship staff, and explore the impressive 12,000-square-foot Center, from the woodshop and learning area in the basement all the way to the bedrooms and attic. We were proud to show off our newest undertaking, and although there is still much to do, we are excited to see how this project will take shape and help advance land conservation through skill-building for volunteers and continuing education for professionals. 

Stewardship Coordinator Zoë Smiarowski shows Leadership Council members around Wildlands’ new 30-acre parcel on Halfway Pond.

Leadership Council gifts are the foundation of Wildlands' annual giving, making it possible for us to continue to grow and meet the conservation needs of Southeastern Massachusetts. Our region benefits greatly from the generosity of this special group of donors, including through cleaner air and water, protected habitats for diverse wildlife, and abundant open space for all to enjoy.  

To show our appreciation for the Leadership Council, Wildlands hosts a celebration in the Conservation Barn at Davis-Douglas Farm each fall and offers a Preserve Tour at a different Wildlands property each June. Leadership Council members are also recognized on a plaque that hangs in the Davis-Douglas Farmhouse at our headquarters. 

Do you, too, want to provide vital support for Wildlands’ efforts to preserve the natural heritage of Southeastern Massachusetts? Join our Leadership Council today and secure your spot at our next special event this fall! 

Click through the slideshow below to see more photos from the Preserve Tour.