West Springfield Environmental Committee
West Springfield, Massachusetts
Bear Hole 7 mile trail race Saturday, November 2, 2024
Events link for registration form / info
Welcome to our website
We are an incorporated ad-hoc, civic, 501(c)(3) organization that advocates for environmental issues in West Springfield by identifying areas of concern, developing agendas for action, building alliances and educating the public through various type of programs that include nature and bird walks, recreational hikes, historical events, library forums, litter and dumping clean-ups, as well as environmental research. We encourage the public to get involved protecting and enhancing the town's environmental resources. The committee was founded in 2005 by the late Diane Crowell, with an agenda of helping the Town of West Springfield develop a recycling program. By 2008 this was complete, so our focus shifted towards land conservation and management.
Today, we primarily focus on Bear Hole Reservoir Watershed and Mittineague Park, which are municipally owned properties, but have expanded our energy to the CT Riverwalk in West Springfield, Lagodich Riverfront Park Canoe and Kayak Park on Riverdale, as well as the newly acquired Prospect Hill Conservation area located at the intersection of Birnie Avenue and Piper Road in West Springfield.
The Student Environmental Education Classroom (SEEC) is also sponsored and coordinated by us providing students from town schools and
St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Springfield with an approved environmental curriculum that includes field trips to Bear Hole and
Mittineague Park so students can apply what is learned in the classroom to realtime use. Depending on the grade level, SEEC also provides a field trip the the Western Massachusetts Materials Recycling Facility in Springfield. SEEC comes at no cost to the taxpayer as we independently fund the program except for bus transportation, which is paid for by the West Springfield School Department.
We collaborate with local groups, municipal and state agencies and except for SEEC bus transportation, we do not receive funding from municipal or state government.
In addition, our volunteer trail maintenance crew helps maintain over 20 total miles of passive use trails located within Mittineague Park
and Bear Hole. Environmental Committee also sponsors and coordinates Clean-Up West Springfield Day and the Bear Hole 10K Run For the Trails.
We are an incorporated ad-hoc, civic, 501(c)(3) organization that advocates for environmental issues in West Springfield by identifying areas of concern, developing agendas for action, building alliances and educating the public through various type of programs that include nature and bird walks, recreational hikes, historical events, library forums, litter and dumping clean-ups, as well as environmental research. We encourage the public to get involved protecting and enhancing the town's environmental resources. The committee was founded in 2005 by the late Diane Crowell, with an agenda of helping the Town of West Springfield develop a recycling program. By 2008 this was complete, so our focus shifted towards land conservation and management.
Today, we primarily focus on Bear Hole Reservoir Watershed and Mittineague Park, which are municipally owned properties, but have expanded our energy to the CT Riverwalk in West Springfield, Lagodich Riverfront Park Canoe and Kayak Park on Riverdale, as well as the newly acquired Prospect Hill Conservation area located at the intersection of Birnie Avenue and Piper Road in West Springfield.
The Student Environmental Education Classroom (SEEC) is also sponsored and coordinated by us providing students from town schools and
St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Springfield with an approved environmental curriculum that includes field trips to Bear Hole and
Mittineague Park so students can apply what is learned in the classroom to realtime use. Depending on the grade level, SEEC also provides a field trip the the Western Massachusetts Materials Recycling Facility in Springfield. SEEC comes at no cost to the taxpayer as we independently fund the program except for bus transportation, which is paid for by the West Springfield School Department.
We collaborate with local groups, municipal and state agencies and except for SEEC bus transportation, we do not receive funding from municipal or state government.
In addition, our volunteer trail maintenance crew helps maintain over 20 total miles of passive use trails located within Mittineague Park
and Bear Hole. Environmental Committee also sponsors and coordinates Clean-Up West Springfield Day and the Bear Hole 10K Run For the Trails.
Bear Hole is West Springfield's gem. Over 1,400 acres of wilderness supporting a 20.63 acre scenic reservoir, remnants of a popular restaurant from the 1800s where a picturesque cascading waterfall is located, as well as nearby Massasoit Spring. Ruins and stone walls of homesteads and mills from the 1800s can be explored, at least 15 miles of mixed terrain passive use trails and service roads; including sections 3 and 4 of the New England National Scenic Trail. The watershed supports all sorts of wildlife including deer, bobcat, black bear, coyote, owls, snakes, turtles, a variety of frogs and salamanders, fox, porcupine and more. The Watershed has 51 vernal pools that have been certified through Mass Wildlife - Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program. Bear Hole's forest is a circumneutral talus forest and wetland and is one of the 10 most intact forested landscapes in Massachusetts. The land supports at least 24 species of rare plants/animals, including 5 reptile species and 4 types of butterflies/moths. Bear Hole is quite popular with dog owners, but if visiting with a dog, please be responsible and respectful. Bear Hole is most commonly accessed via a parking lot at the end of Bear Hole Road, but can also be accessed from several other entry points. Hunting and all forms of off-roading are strictly prohibited. The watershed is actively patrolled by West Springfield Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police and several citizens who act as eyes and ears. Bear Hole Reservoir is an emergency water source source for W Springfield. It was last used for drinking water in 2011. Bear Hole's land is protected under MA Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, a Conservation Restriction held by Mass Audubon and MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as well as several environmental regulations. |
Mittineague Park is a 330 acre municipal owned park accessible from RT 20 via Fife Lane, Churchill Road, Harwich Road and/or Park Drive. The park has free access and provides miles of trails and several amenities including, but not limited to picnicking/cookout facilities, playgrounds, sports fields, gardening plots, basketball court, tennis courts and a greenhouse that's used by the
West Springfield Garden Club. The newly built, multi use Unico building is available for event rentals, as well as a popular, free playground at the building's rear. A summer day camp for youth with disabilities "Camp Robinson" is hosted at the building every summer. The park supports an array of wildlife ranging from coyote, deer, birds, fox, beaver in the Westfield River and much more. The park has 25 vernal pools that have been certified through Mass Wildlife - Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program (NHESP). 8 of the 25 are located on the park's peninsula. There are 6 meadows, which were part of a farm up until the early 1960s. These meadows support an array of wildlife, insects, wildflowers and abut wetland buffer zones. Dogs are welcomed but please be a responsible pet owner. Hunting and all forms of off-roading are strictly prohibited. For more info about the park, call W Spfld Parks & Recreation 413-263-3284 Mittineague Park |
The Environmental Committee has hosted our popular Student Environmental Education Classroom (SEEC) for several years. Engaging at least 1,000 West Springfield students annually. Students in grades 3, 4 and 5, West Spfld Public Schools, as well as St. Thomas Apostle School in West Springfield take part in this conservation themed program. Using a West Springfield Public Schools approved curriculum, students engage with an environmental educator within the classroom and are then treated to a field trip to either Mittineague Park, Bear Hole or the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) to apply what's learned in the classroom to real time, in-the-field use. Grade 5 focuses on "nature cycles" and does a field trip to Bear Hole in the fall. Grade 3 focuses on "habitat" and does a field trip to Mittineague Park. Grade 4 focuses on recycling, however this part of the program is on hold as of 2023.
Nancy Condon through 2024 was the program's coordinator and supervisor. With her departure c/o personal commitments, the Environmental Committee has handed the program to MA Audubon. The Environmental Committee continues to back / shadow the program as well as help provide funding through a cooperative agreement, but overall management is now with Audubon. West Springfield teachers who want more info about their class participating in SEEC, please speak with your building's principal or the Superintendent's office. The Environmental Committee pays for all expenses, except for bus transportation, however with financial demands to fund the program, parents may be asked to contribute what they can comfortably afford to ensure the program's longevity. Donations and sponsorships are always welcomed. Student Environmental Education Classroom (SEEC) |
OUR MISSIONWe Are Committed to Environmental Education, Preservation, Sustainable Recreation and Public Outreach. |
West Springfield
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West Springfield
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Get InvolvedYou can make a difference!
Stay current with what's happening and get educated about nature through our FaceBook page. Need community service hours? Send us an e-mail or attend our monthly meeting to express your interests. Trail work, litter pick-ups, environmental research, history research, grant writing, helping to coordinate events are some of the possibilities. Anyone can attend a monthly meeting. No long term commitment required and you do not have to routinely attend meetings. You are welcomed to participate at your own leisure with whatever interests you. Meetings are typically held the last Wednesday of every month 6:30pm, Oxford Place Community Building, 37 Oxford Place, West Springfield. If entering from Lancaster Ave, the building is first on the left. It's suggested you e-mail us to get on our e-mail list or confirm a monthly meeting is scheduled.
If you have questions, concerns or want to forward ideas or observations, connect with us through FaceBook or e-mail: [email protected] |