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S 657

An Act relative to Stony Brook Reservation

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

DCR must study restoration, maintenance, and possible expansion of Stony Brook Reservation and file a 90-day report with recommendations to key legislative committees.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · S 657

Summary: S.657 An Act Relative to Stony Brook Reservation

Overview

S.657, introduced February 20, 2025, is a Massachusetts Senate bill titled “An Act relative to Stony Brook Reservation.” The bill directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to study and make recommendations regarding the restoration, maintenance, and potential expansion of Stony Brook Reservation, a historic landmark located in Boston and Dedham. The bill is a reporting mandate aimed at shaping future improvements and public use.

Purpose and Intent

  • To assess how to restore and maintain Stony Brook Reservation and enhance its recreational facilities.
  • To evaluate maintenance and rehabilitation needs for current state-owned land within the reservation.
  • To identify opportunities for long-term expansion and rehabilitation to maximize public use.
  • To provide a formal report with recommendations to guide future actions and funding, if pursued.

Key Provisions

  • The DCR shall conduct a study and prepare recommendations relative to Stony Brook Reservation.
  • The study should consider improvements to recreational facilities, maintenance and rehabilitation of existing state-owned land, and potential long-term expansion and rehabilitation.
  • The report shall be filed within 90 days after passage.
  • The report must be submitted to:
    • Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
    • House and Senate Committee on Ways and Means
  • The clause “Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary” empowers the DCR to proceed with the study and recommendations notwithstanding other legal obstacles.

Affected Parties and Scope

  • Primary entity: Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
  • Geographic scope: Stony Brook Reservation, spanning Boston and Dedham.
  • Public impact: Potential changes to recreational facilities and land management could affect residents, park users, and local stakeholders; establishes groundwork for possible future funding or legislative action.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Introduced: February 20, 2025.
  • Legislative actions include:
    • Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance (Feb 20, 2025).
    • Referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (Feb 27, 2025).
    • House concurrence noted (Feb 27, 2025).
    • Hearing scheduled (April 8, 2025, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM in A-1).
    • Referred to Senate Ways and Means after committee review (July 3, 2025) with a favorable report.
  • Status: As of the latest actions, the bill was reported favorably by committee and referred to the Senate Ways and Means committee.

Notes and Context

  • The bill cites a related matter from the 2023-2024 session (Senate No. 573).
  • The sponsor listed is Michael F. Rush; other sponsor/cosponsor entries in the provided materials include names that appear to be federal legislators, suggesting a possible data inconsistency in the sponsor field.

Bottom Line

S.657 is a focused, study-driven bill that would prompt the DCR to assess and propose concrete steps for restoring, maintaining, and expanding Stony Brook Reservation to enhance public use, with a final report due 90 days after passage and shared with key legislative committees to inform future decisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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