Our People

Don Burn

Board Member

Don is a retired Windows device driver consultant. He is an active member of the Sudbury Valley Trustees, the Town of Westborough Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, and the Westborough Community Land Trust Land Preservation Committee Chair. Don has given talks on trail development and partnerships at the statewide trail and land trust conferences and to local groups. He holds a Masters in Computer Science from the University of Illinois.

River-related passions

Canoeing, hiking, and land protection along our waterways. Don got involved with OARS through the Upper Assabet Riverway Plan as the representative from Westborough. He is considered the “open land” expert in Westborough and still helps the town’s Open Space Committee

Professional interests

Helping communities develop plans for trails, both hiking trails and shared-use paths

Other personal interests

Don was the initiator of the Westborough Charm Bracelet Trail network, a 60-mile network of trails around the Town of Westborough. He is currently working on getting eight communities to support the Boston Worcester Air Line Trail (a shared-use path parallel to Route 9 from Worcester to Framingham). Don was one of the architects of the Boroughs Loop Trail (a 33-mile loop of Marlborough, Southborough, Westborough, and Northborough)

~30%

of the SuAsCo rivers watershed is wetlands, crucial for wildlife habitat and water quality

~30%

of water samples in the SuAsCo rivers watershed contain PFAS, leading to increased monitoring and remediation by local authorities and environmental groups

~70%

of dams in the SuAsCo watershed are over a century old, requiring extensive upkeep and presenting obstacles to river restoration and fish passage

>40%

of the land within the watershed is publicly accessible, offering recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating, and birdwatching to the community

~15%

of the land in the SuAsCo rivers watershed is covered by impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops, and parking lots. This contributes to stormwater runoff and water pollution issues

Our People

Don Burn

River-related passions

Professional interests

Other personal interests