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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1080 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 743
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bruce J. Ayers
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to Long and Moon Islands in Boston Harbor.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bruce J. Ayers1st Norfolk1/18/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1080 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 743
By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 743) of Bruce J.
Ayers relative to Long and Moon Islands in Boston Harbor. Environment and Natural
Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3879 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to Long and Moon Islands in Boston Harbor.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 33 of chapter 92 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the fourth paragraph the following 2
3paragraphs:-
4 The division shall, on Long island within Boston harbor, establish as land of the
5commonwealth, the Long island reservation for the purposes of park land, passive recreational
6use and the preservation of open space and conservation land to protect the coastal beaches,
7palustrine wetlands, estuarine intertidal wetlands, marine intertidal wetlands and salt marsh, and
8to provide a habitat for native oysters and other local shellfish. The reservation shall create an
9accessible park for the public with ocean shoreline and shall remain listed in the state register of
10historic places. 2 of 2
11 The division shall, on Moon island within Quincy bay, establish as land of the
12commonwealth, the Moon island reservation for the purposes of park land, passive recreational
13use and the preservation of open space and conservation land to protect the coastal beaches,
14palustrine wetlands, estuarine intertidal wetlands, marine intertidal wetlands and salt marsh, and
15to provide a habitat for native oysters and other local shellfish.
16 SECTION 2. Not later than June 30, 2025, the department of capital asset and
17maintenance, on behalf of the division of state parks and recreation in the department of
18conservation and recreation shall take in fee, pursuant to chapter 79 of the General Laws, the
19land mass encompassing the islands known as Long island and Moon island in the city of
20Boston; provided, however, that the department shall enter into leases for certain properties
21currently used for recreational purposes and rehabilitative facilities. The lands shall be taken
22pursuant to Article XCVII of the amendments to the Constitution for the public benefit of the
23commonwealth and Long island and Moon island are hereby declared reservation lands of the
24commonwealth pursuant to chapter 92 of the General Laws.