Congressman John Olver’s passing saddened us all. But his legacy of commitment to our environment and outdoor recreation will live on for generations to come. Those of us at the Appalachian Mountain Club, particularly those working to steward the New England National Scenic Trail, got to see his work in action and were profoundly impacted by his service.

The Congressman’s passion for our regional trail systems was just one example of this work. He helped secure recognition of the contiguous Metacomet-Monadnock, Mattabesett, and Menunkatuck trails in Massachusetts and Connecticut — which span from Long Island Sound to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire Border — as a 235-mile National Scenic Trail. Congressman Olver was also a champion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and he helped secure funding for land conservation in the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, such as the Fort River Division in Hadley.

His personal knowledge of, and deep connection to, the natural and cultural landscape that he represented in Congress for 22 years resulted in an acceleration of the protection of unique open spaces and increased outdoor recreation opportunities for the residents of our region. His memory will endure through the special places that he recognized as worth saving and sharing with the people to whom he dedicated his lifetime of service.

Liam Cregan, Appalachian Mountain Club

Haydenville

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