Two Medford Spots on Top 1000 Great Places List
Royall House, Middlesex Fells Reservation on State Vacation List
The Royall House and Middlesex Fells Reservation are on a list of 1000 “great places” in the state put together by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.
The following announcement was released by the state travel office:
The committee charged with compiling the nominations for 1000 Great Places revealed the 1000 Great Places list at the State House today. With over 12,000 nominations, the range of Great Places shines on every part of the Commonwealth.
The Great Places initiative celebrates what is unique about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, its communities, and its people. It aims to boost visitation to Massachusetts as well as give local residents the opportunity to visit known and unknown historic sites, cultural venues, and natural landscapes.
“This list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts celebrates what a truly special place Massachusetts is,†says Eric Turkington of Falmouth, a former state representative who chairs the Great Places in Massachusetts Commission. “It reminds us how fortunate we are to have such a wealth of heritage, cultural diversity, and natural beauty right in our backyard.â€
“There are so many wonderful and exciting places to explore in Massachusetts,” said Betsy Wall, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, “the list of 1000 great places gives visitors the opportunity to see the variety and richness the Commonwealth has to offer”
“It was so exciting to see the enthusiasm this process generated from thousands of residents across the Commonwealth,†said Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. “The people of Massachusetts love their state and its special places with passion.â€
All Great Places are open and available to the public.
The list of 1000 Great Places will be posted on the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) website at www.massvacation.com.
The 1,000 Great Places Commission was created by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick in 2009. Its mission is to identify and recognize the 1000 most truly special places in the Commonwealth, in order to celebrate pride in our history and culture, increase knowledge of our natural surroundings, and encourage regional and international tourism.
The program is administered through a partnership of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development; the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and its regional tourism councils; and the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).
Its members are listed below, along with their affiliation:
– The Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development:
Eric Turkington, Falmouth, former House Chair
– Massachusetts Senate:
Senator Sonia Chang-DÃaz, Boston
Senator Benjamin Downing, Pittsfield
Senator Robert Hedlund, Weymouth
– Massachusetts House of Representatives:
Rep. Susan Gifford, Wareham
Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, Pittsfield
Rep. Rosemary Sandlin, Agawam
– Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism/Regional Tourism Councils:
Larry Meehan, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau
Nancy Gardella, Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce
Peter Tomyl, Mohawk Trail Association
Steve Walsh Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
– Massachusetts Cultural Council:
Sheila Balboni, Lawrence
Ricardo Barreto, Boston
About MOTT:
The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) is the state agency dedicated to promoting Massachusetts as a leisure-travel destination in order to stimulate the Massachusetts economy by generating state and local tax revenues, creating jobs, and supporting the growth of travel-related businesses. MOTT serves as a leader in the tourism industry, bringing together the public and private sectors to promote Massachusetts as a leisure travel destination. Tourism is an integral part of the state’s economy, generating more than $887.2 million in state and local taxes and $14.2 billion in travel related expenditures. The industry supports 125,800 in-state jobs.
About the Massachusetts Cultural Council:
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.
– Information from www.MassVacation.com
Middlesex Fells Reservation photo courtesy Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation
It’s a shame that the Mystic Lakes are listed under Arlington, but not Medford. The Medford shoreline is public and accessible, while the Arlington shoreline is almost entirely private land.