Wait! Why are the plants pink?!

It may come as a surprise, but not all green is good when it comes to the environment. Invasive plants come from elsewhere and grow aggressively, harming Arlington's ecology and infrastructure. The Town of Arlington works with volunteers who use eco-friendly spray paint to highlight these harmful species and what to do about them.

Town staff and volunteers put a lot of effort into managing invasive species. We manage invasives in the Town's parks and water bodies (like Spy Pond and the Res) so residents can keep using these beautiful amenities.

You can help! Here is a short description of the most common invasive plants in Arlington. All you have to do is pull them up and throw them away. Please first get in touch with Environmental Planner David Morgan if you want to work in a sensitive area like a wetland.

If you don't want to get your hands dirty, you can sponsor those who do. The Arlington Conservation Commission and Arlington Land Trust jointly manage a fund that pays for invasive management and related conservation efforts. Donate to the Conservation Stewardship Fund to help us continue this important work.

Conservation Lands

The Town of Arlington has approximately 54 acres of conservation land that is protected for the purpose of open space and recreation. The Park and Recreation Department owns 41% of this land. The preservation of this conservation land is vital to protecting wildlife and plant habitat and helps increase the quality of life for residents and visitors.

Most of this land is composed of small parcels scattered throughout the town. Who takes care of this land? The Arlington Conservation Commission (ACC) oversees the Arlington Conservation Land Stewards (ACLS) group to provide support and guidance for citizen volunteers who will take an active role in the protection of public land.

What is Land Stewardship?

The primary objective of the stewardship program is protection: soil from erosion, plants and animals from destruction, ponds and streams from pollution, and the beauty of the land from litter and vandalism. Stewards may contribute to this protection by reporting issues and problems to the appropriate Town officials and, when safe and appropriate, speaking directly to known offenders.

Another important objective of the program is education of the public concerning the value of the land and their responsibilities toward it. Many abuses of public land often occur simply because of a lack of knowledge. When provided with proper guidance, future abuses can be prevented and responsible users of conservation land can be created. We see our land stewards as educators not as enforcers.

Time Commitment

We encourage our land stewards to choose a parcel in the list below and visit the site once a week. While on site, Land stewards are asked to pick up trash and litter, note any vandalism, take pictures of anything that may need follow up, and act as a liaison to the Conservation Commission and its Agent. Depending on the size of the property and how many stewards share responsibility for any given site, this can require a time commitment of anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour per week. Land stewards are also encouraged to participate in large clean-up campaigns, erosion control projects, trainings, and monthly meetings. Regular monthly meetings keep our land stewards informed of issues and efforts on all of our conservation lands and give us a forum to plan for other activities. Please see the Conservation Commission Calendar for location and dates of our meetings. Meetings occur in the weekday evenings and run about an hour in length.

Becoming a Conservation Land Steward

For more information about the land stewards program, please click on the links below or send an email to the Conservation Agent at concomm@town.arlington.ma.us or call the office at 781-316-3012.

Arlington Stewardship Lands List with Map
Policy on Volunteer Projects on Conservation Lands
Invasive Plants of Arlington
Invasive Plant Management Guide
Stewardship Handbook

Lands Under Conservation

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