Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area - Management

Management

The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is managed by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership, a statutory body established as a federal operating committee by the park enabling legislation. The partnership consists of individual members who represent a range of federal, state, city, and nonprofit agencies, including:

• United States National Park Service
• United States Coast Guard
• Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
• Massachusetts Port Authority
• Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
• City of Boston
• Boston Redevelopment Authority
• Boston Harbor Island Alliance
• Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center
• The Trustees of Reservations

In addition, the Partnership includes representation from the Boston Harbor Islands Advisory Council, whose purpose is to make recommendations to the Partnership about park management. There are 13 Partners in total, together with 13 Alternates. Apart from the representative for the Coast Guard, who is appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, all the members of the partnership are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior after consultation with the appropriate agency or other body.

In practice, day to day management of each individual island or other site is the responsibility of one of the partner agencies or other bodies. The partnership provides a consistency and coordination across the whole park.