My father took us to Greenfield’s pumping station for a swim on a weekend afternoon or after work on a hot summer weekday evening. My mother preferred the Greenfield Swimming Pool (Recreation Area). My friend’s mother drove us to The Ten Mile Bridge in Colrain for an occasional picnic lunch and swim. On special occasions, it was a trip to Laurel Lake at the Erving State Forest.
I took such outings for granted. It never occurred to me that not everybody had the same luxury as I, my siblings and my friends were presented. When we were older, we even rode our bikes to such locations.
Now I’m more aware of the issue of access, availability and opportunity when it comes to recreational freedom. To help further the discussion, Greenfield’s Human Rights Commission is presenting a Conversation on Environmental Justice to help explain some of the challenges in our current system that I didn’t have to think about as a kid.
The public is invited to participate in a community exploration of (and conversation about) environmental justice and the nature gap. This forum will take place on Monday, June 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the John Zon Community Center at 35 Pleasant Street. It will also be streamed live on Greenfield Community Television. Community members can also participate via Zoom (bit.ly/HRCNature).
Locally, we are fortunate to enjoy a naturally beautiful and accessible landscape, but not everyone has equal access to this fundamental gift because free and easy access to rivers and lakes has been curtailed.
Fees are skewed more heavily on visitors from out of the immediate area. People are pushed toward more sensitive and unprotected locations to access water for recreation. Others don’t have access to transportation to get to recreational locations.
Greenfield residents are fortunate to have the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area and, until recently, the pumping station, which provided free and open access to river enjoyment.
Access to nature should be a human right. Studies have shown the positive impact being in nature has on mental, physical and emotional health, and the negative impact of its absence.
The June 6 forum hopes to answer the following questions: What is environmental justice? What is the nature gap and why should we care? What are we doing in Greenfield to advance this essential human right? What is needed from and most important to the community?
Presenters will include Kristen Sykes of the Appalachian Mountain Club, who will focus on the nature gap; Dr. Neenah Estrella-Luna of Star-Luna Consulting who will speak to environmental justice as a human right; Greenfield Community and Economic Development Director MJ Adams; Greenfield Energy and Sustainability Director Carole Collins; and Greenfield Recreation Director Christy Moore, who will discuss what the city has done to address these important issues and outline the plan moving forward.
Greenfield’s Human Rights Commission is hopeful that interested community members will join us at 6:30 on Monday, June 6 at the John Zon Center — or on GCTV and Zoom — to participate in this exciting educational endeavor that will help us best utilize our local nature opportunities.
William Perry was born and raised in Turners Falls, has owned property in Greenfield since 1983, and is a member of Greenfield’s Human Rights Commission.