Dorchester Reporter: On the ballot: A new way to protect Massachusetts’s natural resources

February 12, 2026 - Visit the Neponset River any time of year, and you’ll find people. From families walking, biking, or rollerblading on the Neponset Greenway Trail, to people kayaking or fishing in the river itself —and the many parks that surround it — the scene is a source of peace and fresh air amidst our bustling city streets…

The Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative would help deliver much-needed funding to protect water and nature right here in Dorchester and Mattapan. That could include projects like building new urban parks, restoring access to more of the Neponset River waterfront, and supporting community gardens. All without raising taxes.