• Lush vegetation on the top of Spectacle Island's North drumlin dominates the foreground. Boston's skyline can be seen in the distance. The park's logo with tag line minutes away, worlds apart empashises the stark contrast between the city and islands.

    Boston Harbor Islands

    National Recreation Area Massachusetts

Boston Harbor Islands Advisory Council

Public participation in planning and decision making ensures that park mangers fully understand and consider the public's interests in the Boston Harbor Islands, which as a national park is part of their heritage, cultural traditions, and community surroundings. With membership representing several segments of the greater Boston Harbor community, the Council is the primary mechanism used by the Partnership public involvement on matters of park planning and management.

The Boston Harbor Islands Advisory Council's purpose is to advise and make recommendations to the Partnership on the development and implementation of the general management plan for the islands, including ongoing park operations.

Governance of the Council provides for an open public process in its formulation of recommendations. The official work of the Advisory Council takes place at quarterly meetings; general discussion of issues occurs at sub-committee workshops and other public forums. In order to be most effective in advising the Partnership, Advisory Council members have committee assignments on the standing committees of the Partnership.

Council members are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior through the Director of the National Park Service. The park superintendent is the Federal Official that oversees the Council's operation.

Municipalities

  • Nancy Callanan
  • William Reardon
  • Vacant
  • Vacant

Educational & Cultural

  • John Anderson
  • Carl Johnson
  • Rick Kasseli
  • Peter Rosen

Environmental

  • Jennifer Bender
  • Dale Linder
  • Rob Moir, Chair & voting alternate
  • Lauri Webster

Business & Commercial

  • Maureen Cavanaugh, Vice-Chair & voting partner
  • Jay Schmidt
  • Lou Gainor
  • Vacant

Boston Harbor-Related Advocacy

  • James Martel
  • Walter Hope
  • Charles Norris
  • Matt Wolfe

Native American

  • John Peters
  • Elizabeth Solomon
  • Vacant
  • Vacant

Community Groups

  • Mel Harris
  • Vacant
  • Vacant
  • Vacant

Federal Official

  • Bruce Jacobson

Did You Know?

Vintage Aerial View of Boston Light

Boston Light Station, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, is visited every year by the Flying Santa, a long-time New England tradition started by William Wincapaw in 1929.  The Flying Santa delivers food, toys, and other necessities to lighthouses across New England. More...