ERVING — To help maintain public climbing access at the Farley Ledges along Route 2, the Western Massachusetts Climbers’ Coalition has acquired 70 acres of land that will be developed into a 60-vehicle parking lot and a new trailhead.

The coalition coordinated with the national advocacy organization Access Fund and funded the land acquisition through its Climbing Conservation Loan Program, which offers loans to local organizations that are seeking to acquire and protect climbing land across the U.S.

“This acquisition represents the second phase of WMCC’s multi-year ‘Farley Conservation
Initiative,’ designed to enhance public access and safeguard climbing at Farley Ledges,” a statement from the Western Massachusetts Climbers’ Coalition reads. “With this new purchase, WMCC is moving closer to its vision to secure long-term public access to the ledges with sufficient parking, ATV access for emergency crews and permanent protection of the cliff.”

The coalition is a volunteer-run nonprofit that works with stakeholders in town government, advocacy groups, landowners and conservation groups to keep climbing areas open and accessible to climbers of all backgrounds, and to conserve the climbing environment.

The coalition also received financial support from a Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts grant and $5,000 from the Central Rock Gym in Hadley.

“This project marks a major milestone in a 20-year-long effort to expand access to
Massachusetts’ premier rock climbing,” Jon LaValley, a founding member of the coalition, said in a statement. “There’s no shame in the long game.”

Coalition Executive Board Member Nick Friedman purchased the 25 Old State Road property in 2023 to take the land off the market and allow time for applying for permits and grants. The land was sold to the Western Massachusetts Climbers’ Coalition in December at a price of $182,500, according to real estate transactions.

Friedman, a Cambridge resident, said he’s been climbing at the Farley Ledges for 15 years and he believes the land purchase and development represents a “massive step forward” in keeping access open to the public at the ledges.

The coalition is seeking to raise $430,000 to pay back the Access Fund loans. So far, the coalition has raised $53,775, meeting its 2025 goal. In addition to paying for the land acquisition, the Access Fund loans will cover the cost of the new parking lot, the construction of a new trailhead, and amenities like a portable toilet, a shed for tool storage and information kiosks.

“Access Fund has maintained a long partnership with WMCC dating back to the very beginning of our loan program,” Access Fund’s National Acquisitions Director Brian Tickle said in a statement. “This most recent acquisition permanently protects access to one of the prized crags in the Northeast and we’re honored to be a part of it.”

The donation page explains that by opening up parking access, the goal is to alleviate parking congestion along Route 2 and in surrounding neighborhoods. The new parking lot would also offer a proper staging area for first responders to access the Farley Ledges without closing down Route 2 to traffic.

Stephanie Giguere, operating executive with the Western Massachusetts Climbers’ Coalition, explained that the development of the new trailhead will open up access to the western edge of the cliff. The parking lot will also be made of a permeable material to allow for stormwater drainage.

The donation page also notes that the goal is to protect a majority of the acreage through a conservation restriction. The coalition will respect that more than 50% of the ledges are privately owned and will not publish trail route information on private land.

Elayne Bryan, general manager of the Central Rock Gym in Hadley, said the indoor climbing gym has maintained a positive relationship with the coalition. The gym donated $5,000 toward the effort to purchase and protect Farley Ledges.

“It’s such a local gem,” Bryan said, adding that protecting access for climbers is an important initiative.

LOWELL — UMass Lowell, in partnership with local government, developers and community organizations, is looking to tackle one of Massachusetts’ biggest challenges: housing availability.

The Healey-Driscoll administration and the Innovation Institute at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative announced Nov. 6 that Greater Lowell has been designated a Housing Innovation TechHub through the Massachusetts TechHubs Program, an initiative intended to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems across the state. The designation is part of the program’s first cohort of 14 TechHubs recognized statewide.

“These TechHubs reflect the best of what happens when local leaders, institutions and businesses work together to build on their region’s unique strengths,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “Our administration believes that innovation doesn’t just happen in one ZIP code, it happens in every community when we provide the tools and investment to help it thrive.”

Led by UMass Lowell and funded by a $100,000 Strategy Development Grant, the Housing Innovation TechHub aims to address the commonwealth’s housing crisis through innovation in design and sustainability, zoning and policy, and manufacturing and construction. The TechHub will serve as a living laboratory for testing and scaling new approaches to affordable and sustainable housing.

“The TechHubs program represents a long-term commitment to building the next generation of innovation ecosystems in Massachusetts,” said Innovation Institute Director Pat Larkin.

“By leveraging the experiences of the different regional initiatives, we’re laying the foundation for sustained regional transformation and economic competitiveness,” Larkin added.

According to the Healey-Driscoll administration’s “A Home for Everyone: A Comprehensive Housing Plan for Massachusetts,” Massachusetts needs to increase its year-round housing supply by at least 222,000 homes over the next decade to meet demand and lower costs, the report found. The MassInc Policy Center has found the housing need is pronounced in Gateway Cities such as Lowell, which will need 83,000 new units over the next decade.

To address this challenge, the team behind the Housing Innovation TechHub, including officials from UMass Lowell, the city of Lowell, the Cambridge Innovation Center, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and Bequall, will develop a strategic plan that delivers scalable housing solutions through the integration of cutting-edge technology, transformative policy frameworks and community-driven approaches.

“The Strategy Development Grant allows us to convene the right partners and create an actionable roadmap for housing innovation,” said Kim Holloway, associate vice chancellor for research and innovation acceleration at UMass Lowell. “Our goal is to turn research and ideas into real projects that can transform how housing is built and financed across Massachusetts.”

Centered in Greater Lowell, the TechHub will test and refine new approaches that can be replicated statewide, positioning the area as a proving ground for housing innovation across Massachusetts.

“Lowell has always been a city that leads through innovation,” said Lowell City Manager Tom Golden. “This effort builds on that legacy and makes Lowell the launchpad for the future of housing across the state, creating solutions that are affordable, sustainable and scalable for communities everywhere.”

The Housing Innovation TechHub builds on the momentum of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, a partnership between the university, industry and government focused on a 1.2-million-square-foot mixed-use development that will include offices, research labs, housing, retail businesses and entertainment destinations. Together, the TechHub and LINC will make the Greater Lowell region a national model for housing innovation and economic opportunity.

“The Housing Innovation TechHub represents exactly the kind of forward-looking collaboration that defines UMass Lowell,” said Chancellor Julie Chen. “Along with transformational projects like LINC, the TechHub reflects how we’re bringing research and partnerships to life to strengthen communities and expand opportunities across the region.”

Massachusetts residents returning to work on Monday should watch out for slick roads following a bout of freezing rain Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service.

A winter weather advisory is set to go into effect in all of Massachusetts aside from the South Coast, South Shore, Cape and Islands from 7 p.m. Sunday night to 6 a.m. Monday morning.

Freezing rain, then rain is expected during this time, and as much as two-tenths of an inch of ice could accumulate in communities north of I-90, according to the weather service. Drivers should prepare for slippery roads, but sidewalks, driveways and outdoor stairs and steps could also be dangerous.

Freezing rain is predicted to begin around 7 p.m. in Western Massachusetts and spread eastward, reaching the opposite end of the state by 10 p.m., according to the weather service. Overnight lows in the high 20s and low 30s are expected.

The freezing rain is predicted to switch over to a mix of rain and freezing rain and then to just rain between midnight and 6 a.m., according to the weather service. Communities in the southern parts of Massachusetts are expected to experience the shift earlier in the night, and the South Coast, South Shore, Cape and Islands are predicted to see only rain.

Monday is expected to be rainy and windy with some patchy fog, according to the weather service. Daily high temperatures are predicted to reach the high 40s and low 50s.

The rain is expected to cease between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday in most Massachusetts communities, according to the weather service. The latter half of Monday is predicted to be windy, with gusts up to 40 mph.

Overnight lows in the low to mid 20s are expected Monday night, according to the weather service. Partly sunny skies and strong winds with gusts up to 40 mph are predicted for Tuesday.

Daily high temperatures are expected to reach the mid to high 20s in most of Massachusetts, according to the weather service. Overnight lows in the high teens and low 20s are predicted for Tuesday night.