Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces the Opening of Reservations for the 2026 Camping Season at DCR Parks  

Reservations for DCR’s 25 Campgrounds Open to the Public on February 18; Campers Can Book Up to Four Months in Advance  

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) today announced that reservations for the 2026 state park camping season will open to the public on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 9 a.m. Camping season at DCR’s 25 campgrounds will begin in April and continue through October.

“Camping at a DCR park is a cherished tradition for families and friends from all over – many of whom return to the same campground year after year, and in some cases for decades,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. “Spending time together outdoors strengthens relationships, creates lasting memories, and helps foster the vital connection between people and nature, along with a shared responsibility to care for these special places.” 

Campers should note the following prior to booking a reservation:  

• Reservations are available up to four months in advance of arrival.  
• Same-day reservations are available until 2 p.m. daily through ReserveAmerica 
• Campers should fill out all required fields of the reservation application at the time of booking to ensure a smooth arrival.  
• Visitors without a reservation are not allowed in campsites; however, day-use areas are available for gathering and outdoor activities. 
• All pets must have physical proof of valid rabies vaccination. Entry may be denied at check-in if paper verification cannot be provided.  
   

Campground-Specific Updates 

• Fans of camping at Mount Greylock State Reservation and the Boston Harbor Islands are encouraged to monitor DCR’s website and social media accounts for updates on the camping schedule. 
• Savoy Mountain State Forest’s campground will close July 31, 2026, to accommodate the construction of a new bathhouse.  
• This season, Washburn Island will be available for camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The campground at Washburn Island is accessible by private boat only. Please note that there is no on-site parking at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve or at the Town of Falmouth parking lot at White’s Landing. Campers are responsible for finding suitable parking arrangements. 

Since last season, DCR has made several improvements to its campsites including the new yurts at both Clarksburg State Park and Nickerson State Park. 

A list of DCR campsites can be found at DCR’s camping webpage. Campsites vary in offered accommodations, including showers, flush toilets, and R.V. water and power hook-ups. 

Yurts can be reserved at Myles Standish State Forest, Nickerson State Park, October Mountain State Forest, Clarksburg State Park, Otter River State Forest, Shawme Cromwell State Forest, Wells State Park and Willard Brook State Forest. Cabins can be rented at Mohawk Trail State Forest and Savoy Mountain State Forest. For more information on camping in cabins and yurts visit DCR’s cabin and yurt camping webpage. 

Additionally, approximately 20 of DCR’s campgrounds have accessible campsites that all provide accessible parking, accessible restrooms, and a flat, firm and stable surface for camping. For more information on accessible campsites visit DCR’s accessible camping webpage.  

Last year, DCR accepted nearly 65,000 camping reservations at parks across the state. For more information and questions about the 2026 camping season, visit the agency’s website or email [email protected]. 

National Grid continues its series of in-person Customer Assistance Events in February 2026, part of the utility’s commitment to help customers manage their energy bills. Colder‑than‑normal weather across Massachusetts has led to higher energy use and increased winter bills for many customers. With more cold weather ahead, our customer service teams are here to help residents manage seasonal energy costs and connect with bill‑assistance and money‑saving programs.

The 31 Customer Assistance Events in February 2026 will take place across Massachusetts, hosted at city halls, local senior centers, and other accessible locations, ensuring easy access for senior citizens and other customers. The full list of locations is included below.

National Grid will also host two virtual Bill Assistance webinars this month to provide customers with an overview of bill management solutions and options for financial assistance. Customers can register at the links below for the free webinar, which will be hosted in both English and Spanish:

• Register for the Bill Assistance Webinar in Spanish - February 6, 2026, 1- 2 p.m.
• Register for the Bill Assistance Webinar in English - February 9, 2026, 12- 1 p.m.

These events, which are free and open to the public, are part of National Grid’s broader commitment to affordability and reliability. Customers can find information about upcoming sessions on our Customer Assistance webpage or learn more about managing winter energy bills at ngrid.com/hereforyou. Can also request assistance by calling 1-800-233-5325. 

February 2026 Customer Assistance Events

Help with Managing Energy Bills:

National Grid is committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to the customers and communities we serve. We recognize that affordability is a significant concern, and National Grid offers various programs and services to help customers save energy, manage their bills, and access financial assistance. It is not too late to explore programs that help manage energy costs, including signing up for a Payment Assistance Bundle. The bundle combines three helpful solutions to make it easier for managing energy costs and paying down past due amounts over a 12-month period.

• Deferred Payment Agreement: Spread out past-due balance into future monthly payments.
• Automatic Monthly Payments: Automatically deduct payments from your bank account each month and avoid missing due dates.
• Budget Plan: Break down annual energy costs into balanced monthly payments, making it easier to budget and plan expenses.

Customers interested in enrolling in the Payment Assistance Bundle can do so online by visiting ngrid.com/hereforyou, at an in-person event, or by calling 1-800-233-5325.

• Budget Billing: Allows customers to spread their usual payment over twelve balanced monthly payments to help offset the traditionally high winter heating and summer air conditioning peak bills. Doing so makes it easier to anticipate monthly energy costs and plan household budgets. Additional information can be found here. 
• Discount Rates: Income-eligible customers may qualify for a discounted rate on energy service. To be eligible, applicants must be a National Grid customer and already enrolled in an eligible benefit program or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Visit the Discount Rate application to determine eligibility and apply.
• Heat Pump Rate: National Grid introduced a new Residential Heat Pump Rate November 1st to help electric customers save during the winter heating season. Qualified customers who use heat pumps for home heating will receive a reduced delivery rate on electricity from November through April, lowering monthly costs. Customers who think they qualify but did not receive an enrollment confirmation should visit ngrid.com/heatpumprate to fill out the enrollment form to apply and ensure they receive the discount.

On behalf of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security (EOPSS), and the Department of Fire Services (DFS), we are pleased to announce the availability of $6.8 Million in Fire Department Grants.

DFS has opened the FY26 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program, which reimburses fire departments for the purchase of firefighter turnout gear, hoses, nozzles, communications equipment, hand tools, etc. More than 100 types of equipment are eligible for reimbursement, with a scoring emphasis on equipment that will help departments meet current NFPA and OSHA standards. The application period opened on 1/21/26.

• Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program:
• Notice of Funding Opportunity and grant application: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/grants-for-fire-departments#firefighter-safety-equipment-grant-program

DFS is also preparing to open the FY26 Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE Grant program, which funds age-appropriate fire and life safety education for school-age children and older adults. $1.8 million will be distributed to local fire departments for overtime and equipment associated with visits to schools, senior centers, and homes. The application period is expected to open next week.

• Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE grant program:
• Notice of Funding Opportunity and grant application: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/student-awareness-of-fire-education-safe

The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) are pleased to announce that the inaugural round of the Sports and Entertainment Events Fund Grant Program has opened. Established and appropriated through Chapter 73 of the Acts of 2025, this fund is designed to support a competitive matching grant program for major sports or entertainment events.  

The $10 million available in this round is dedicated to supporting uses related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Non-profit organizations and municipalities are eligible to apply, and by statute, no more than half the balance of the fund may be granted to any one recipient in any calendar year. MOTT will consider applications supporting match hosting, Fan Fests, watch parties, and team home bases. Per statute, grants will take into account both economic impact and geographic equity. 

More information and the program application can be found at https://mott.submittable.com/submit

The Governor’s Youth Advisory Council would like to invite youth ages 16-20 to Governor Healey’s second annual Youth Summit, held on Monday, February 9th, at 3:00 pm, in the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House. The summit will provide a valuable opportunity for young leaders across the Commonwealth to come together and discuss important topics concerning youth, including mental health, education, and healthcare.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has posted a grant application to support collection and processing of specified target materials through the Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program. To aid in meeting the goals of the 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan, the RBDG program seeks to provide grants to companies and corporations to support creation of sustainable recycling markets and to add value to municipal and business recycling efforts.

A key element of reducing our solid waste disposal is fostering local recycling markets, particularly for targeted materials that lack strong markets and demand. Stronger local recycling markets support a robust, sustainable, and cost-effective recycling infrastructure and foster economic development and job creation.

Applications will be accepted until April 3, 2026. Additional information can be found on the RBDG webpage, here: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-recycling-reuse-business-development-grant. 

MassDOT Announces New Municipal Speed Feedback Signage Program

Program will provide municipalities with solar-powered, data-capable speed feedback signs

 
BOSTON- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing the launch of the Municipal Speed Feedback Signage Program, a new $1 million initiative designed to help communities manage vehicle speeds and enhance roadway safety, particularly in speed transition zones where posted limits change. 

The program, administered cooperatively by MassDOT’s Office of Transportation Planning and Highway Division, will provide municipalities with solar-powered, data-capable, and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) compliant speed feedback signs (either post-mounted or portable trailer-mounted) at no capital cost to local governments.  An application form is available online at the following link, with signs distributed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis. 

Participating municipalities will be responsible for installation and maintenance of the signs and will share the speed data collected from the signs to help support statewide speed management research and decision-making. The initiative is supported with federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 and aligns with MassDOT’s broader Safe System approach and Vision Zero strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. 

“The launch of this program strengthens our collaboration with cities and towns as we work together to increase driver awareness, reduce vehicle speeds, and make our roads safer for everyone,” said Undersecretary and State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.  “MassDOT’s top priority is and always will be safety so we are excited to partner with cities and towns to provide these signs to qualifying applications at no up front cost to municipalities.” 

Research shows that driver feedback signs are among the most effective tools for influencing driver behavior, reducing average speeds by 2–17% and lowering collision severity by 23–45% in urban environments. Driver feedback signs are particularly effective in speed transition zones where roadway design or context changes, such as moving from rural to suburban or urban areas. 

Details on the program overview, eligibility, application materials, FAQs, and contact information are available on MassDOT’s Municipal Planning & Support Team’s webpage: https://www.mass.gov/massdot-municipal-planning-and-support.