Easthampton's Mayor Nicole LaChapelle is set to take the reins as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), stepping in for Brian Arrigo, who will join the University of Massachusetts Lowell. This move, announced by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, will be effective July 21. LaChapelle, whose mayoral tenure saw various environmental and sustainable initiatives, is primed to manage the state's public lands, continuing to keep them safe, clean, and open to all residents and visitors.
Embracing a hands-on policy for running a city, Mayor LaChapelle has a track record that Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll believe will translate well into her new role. "I’ve worked with Mayor LaChapelle for many years, and I am thrilled she is joining our administration," said Healey on Mass.gov, noting the importance of public spaces to the state's social fabric, and economy. LaChapelle's prior efforts in affordable housing, green space protection, and infrastructure are seen as strong indicators of what her leadership could bring to the DCR.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper praised outgoing Commissioner Arrigo for strides made in communication and forestry approaches under his tenure, expressing excitement for LaChapelle's forthcoming contribution. "Mayor LaChapelle understands the connection our communities have with our DCR properties," LaChapelle told Mass.gov. Her prior environmental accomplishments include the leverage of significant funding for green projects and climate preparedness, alongside the launch of innovative housing projects in partnership with Kestrel Land Trust.
Before her stint as a public officeholder, LaChapelle worked for over two decades in support of disabled and marginalized students. Her background as a Massachusetts School Superintendent, Special Education Administrator, and an advocate for civil rights, is seen as valuable experience for her new, leadership endeavor. In acknowledgment of the shifting baton, Arrigo remarked on the dedication of the DCR staff and offered his best wishes to LaChapelle for her new chapter at the agency.
LaChapelle's list of credentials is extensive, with service on various committees and boards, including the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Unlocking Housing Production Commission and the Massachusetts Municipal Mayors Association, which she presided over in 2024. She is a product of Smith College and Western New England School of Law, signifying a strong local and academic connection to the region she is now set to serve in an even greater capacity.
