BNRC remembers friend of Berkshire County open space

Douglas G. Poland.

We were saddened to learn in July of the death of Douglas G. Poland. For nearly 40 years until his retirement in January 2001, Doug served as the director of the state forests and parks western region. Ever skeptical, often justifiably, of Boston's intentions regarding the Berkshires, Doug remained a steadfast believer in the value and virtue of protected open space. One of his last public acts came after his retirement, when, as a member of the Mount Greylock Advisory Committee, his active and articulate defense of the mountain helped convince a close majority of committee members to reject yet another bid from Adams to build a tramway up Greylock's eastern face.