Department of Conservation and Recreation

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. The DCR's mission is "To protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources for the well-being of all." The agency is the largest landowner in Massachusetts. The DCR owns and maintains multiple highways inherited from its predecessor agency, which had ripped out parkland to install them. Today, those highways are among the state's most dangerous roads.