Metropolitan District Commission

Metropolitan District Commission. The Metropolitan District Commission was a Massachusetts state agency responsible for the development and maintenance of public parks, recreation areas, and water supply systems in the Boston metropolitan area, working closely with the City of Boston, Town of Brookline, and City of Cambridge. The commission was established in 1926, following the recommendations of the Boston Metropolitan Park Commission and the Massachusetts State Legislature, with the goal of providing recreational facilities and services to the growing population of the Greater Boston area, including Suffolk County, Middlesex County, and Norfolk County. The commission played a crucial role in the development of the region's infrastructure, working in conjunction with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Highway Administration, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

● History

The Metropolitan District Commission was formed in 1926, through the merger of the Boston Metropolitan Park Commission and the Metropolitan Water District, with the aim of providing a comprehensive approach to park development and water supply management in the Boston metropolitan area, including the Charles River, Neponset River, and Mystic River watersheds. The commission's early years were marked by significant investments in infrastructure, including the construction of the Quabbin Reservoir, which was completed in 1939, and the development of the Blue Hills Reservation, which was established in 1893. The commission also worked closely with the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to protect and preserve the region's natural resources, including the Blue Hills, Middlesex Fells, and Stony Brook Reservation.

● Organization

The Metropolitan District Commission was headed by a board of commissioners, appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts, including Michael Dukakis, William Weld, and Paul Cellucci, who were responsible for setting the agency's policies and overseeing its operations, in consultation with the Massachusetts State Legislature, Boston City Council, and Cambridge City Council. The commission was organized into several departments, including the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Water Supply, and the Department of Engineering, which worked together to manage the region's parks, water supply systems, and infrastructure, including the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate 93, and Interstate 95. The commission also had a close relationship with other state agencies, including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

● Responsibilities

The Metropolitan District Commission was responsible for the development and maintenance of public parks, recreation areas, and water supply systems in the Boston metropolitan area, including the Esplanade, Boston Common, and Franklin Park, which were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Calvert Vaux, and Charles Eliot. The commission was also responsible for the management of the region's water supply, including the Quabbin Reservoir, Wachusett Reservoir, and Sudbury Reservoir, which were constructed in collaboration with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The commission worked closely with local communities, including the City of Boston, Town of Brookline, and City of Cambridge, to provide recreational facilities and services, including the Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.

● Operations

The Metropolitan District Commission operated a wide range of facilities and services, including parks, beaches, and swimming pools, such as the Revere Beach, Nantasket Beach, and Walden Pond, which were popular destinations for residents and visitors, including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Boston University students. The commission also operated a number of water treatment plants, including the Quabbin Water Treatment Plant and the Wachusett Water Treatment Plant, which were designed to provide safe and reliable drinking water to the region's residents, in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act. The commission's operations were supported by a workforce of over 2,500 employees, who were responsible for maintaining the region's parks, water supply systems, and infrastructure, including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Logan International Airport.

● Controversies

The Metropolitan District Commission was involved in several controversies during its history, including concerns over the agency's management of the region's water supply, particularly with regard to the Quabbin Reservoir and the Wachusett Reservoir, which were the subject of disputes with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The commission was also criticized for its handling of park development and maintenance, including the construction of the Storrow Drive and the Memorial Drive, which were opposed by local residents and environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society. The commission's relationship with local communities was also a source of controversy, with some communities feeling that the agency was not responsive to their needs and concerns, including the City of Somerville, City of Everett, and Town of Arlington.

● Reforms

In 2004, the Metropolitan District Commission was abolished and its functions were transferred to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, as part of a broader effort to reform the state's government agencies and improve their efficiency and effectiveness, following the recommendations of the Massachusetts Governor's Task Force on Government Reform and the Massachusetts State Legislature. The reform effort was led by Governor Mitt Romney and was supported by a number of state agencies, including the Massachusetts Department of Administration and Finance and the Massachusetts Department of Human Resources. The abolition of the Metropolitan District Commission was seen as a positive step towards improving the management of the region's parks, water supply systems, and infrastructure, and towards providing better services to the residents of the Boston metropolitan area, including the City of Boston, Town of Brookline, and City of Cambridge.

Category:Defunct government agencies of Massachusetts