LAW, ADVOCACY & POLICY

Massachusetts State Reorganization

New DCR Commissioner Has Capable Hands Full

An interview with former head of Island Alliance Kathy Abbott

By CRWA Parklands Advocate Kate Bowditch

As many Streamer readers know, CRWA worked closely with the legislature and administration this year to reorganize the state environmental agencies. On July 1, the following major changes were put in place: the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) was merged with the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to create the new Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR); and a Stewardship Council was established to guide DCR. CRWA supports the reorganization, as it will improve management, increase public participation, and provide accountability and transparency in park and recreation services across the state. DCR is made up of three divisions: State Parks and Recreation; Urban Parks and Recreation; and Water Supply Protection. 

In October, Katherine Abbott took office as the first Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). CRWA asked her a few questions about how she sees the new department.

CRWA: What are you most excited about as you take on this new and important position?

Abbott: Succeeding! We have a great parks system, and we have to build a great department to manage it. I think we can do that, which is why I took the job.

CRWA: What opportunities do you see in the reorganization?

Abbott: The opportunities are tremendous. First, the new structure will quickly eliminate some of the inconsistencies between the two agencies [MDC and DEM], so that all of our park and recreational resources are managed with a similar philosophy and under the same guidelines. There's real public benefit in that. There will be uniform rules, pricing, and policies so that people know what to expect. We'll have a single web page with all the information people need to access the whole system, statewide. Second, the reorganization will allow some great people with unique skills, people who were formerly housed in one agency or the other, to serve the whole state. That's a tremendous gain. I think we can take the best out of each agency and blend it into a new identity that's stronger.

CRWA: What challenges are there in that process?

Abbott: Well, trying to do this quickly is probably the biggest challenge. These agencies have histories that go back over a hundred years. With public agencies that are this old, you have bureaucratic layering and growth that isn't always well planned and doesn't always make sense or work well. That's a lot of history to try to change all at once. Plus, these agencies have been suffering under the threat of consolidation for so long that it's hard to move quickly. But that's what we need to do. We need to involve everyone, all the parties in the process, get buy-in, and actually make these changes happen. Of course the budget situation is another huge challenge. With the state's growing fixed expenses, no new taxes, and a slow economic recovery, it won't be easy to do all this. And just in terms of practicalities, there are both financial and political challenges. We need to really define the state's responsibilities, based on article 97 for example [which protects public parkland]. Citizens have a right to clean air, clean water, protected resources, scenic beauty. What are the state's responsibilities to achieve those, and then how do we build on that base with partnerships, new models, new ways to coordinate all the partners in the effort? 

CRWA: Can you talk a little bit more about partnerships?

Abbott: Well, at this point, there's less and less public funding available for parks, and I can't see us going back to the days of government paying for everything. Having worked with one model that was fairly successful, I really believe that a multifaceted partnering approach is the future. But we have a lot to learn. What is the right model, not just for capital projects, but for operations? If we build partnerships for our parks, how well will they hold up in economic downturns? How do we make sure everyone remains at the table and participates? In my experience, people don't walk away once they're invested in the process. We also need to reconnect conservation and recreation to public health, safety and education. That's all part of building partnerships.

CRWA: What are some of your specific goals, short term and long?

Abbott: A big long term goal is getting all the state's citizens reengaged and excited about what they own. We need people to believe this is worth doing and to help get it done by getting everyone to become stewards. Short term, for the department, that means developing a new story to tell, and doing it quickly. People need to see change within the next year. We need to create a baseline, to figure out where we really are in terms of our resource conditions, our services, our staffing, our budget, and our mandates. Some of that is going to be bad news, but that's okay. We need to know where we are, decide where we need to be, and then figure out how to get there. In the immediate term, I'm working directly and intensely with staff. Then I need to move out to work with the legislature and local government officials, and with partner groups. 

CRWA: What do you think about the new Stewardship Council?

Abbott: Basically, it's my board of directors. Of course the department is answerable to others as well. We are mandated by the legislature to do certain things. We have a budget, and the rest of state and local government we have to work with. But the Stewardship Council is a great concept, and I hope it will be a terrific resource. I see it as a group to advise the department in the development of our vision, policies, strategy, implementation, and planning. I think they will help leverage other resources and create productive partnerships. I'm looking forward to seeing it built, and I hope it can craft its mission in the most productive way possible.

CRWA: You seem pretty upbeat in spite of all the work ahead of you! How do you feel?

Abbott: I'm having a great time!