Dave Rimmer to Retire as Director of Stewardship, Will Continue to Lead Osprey Program

When you talk to the people who have worked alongside Dave Rimmer over his nearly quarter-century career at Greenbelt — from past presidents to current members of the Stewardship team — certain themes consistently emerge.

All agree that Dave maintains exceptionally high standards when caring for Greenbelt’s properties. His balanced approach to improving public access while protecting natural resources is evident across Greenbelt’s well-tended and welcoming landscapes.

Dave is also widely regarded as a people person. On any given day, he engages with landowners, partner organizations, town officials, contractors, volunteers, staff, and community members — always with the same thoughtful, patient, down-to-earth manner that has helped Greenbelt build strong, lasting relationships across the region.

Most make mention of Dave’s love for the outdoors and active lifestyle as being central to his character and success. His interest in fishing, hunting, boating, and exploring both wooded trails and open seas enables him to connect authentically with those who share similar interests.

Perhaps most of all, Dave is recognized for his devotion to the region’s Osprey. Through Greenbelt’s Osprey Program, which he launched in 2010, he has inspired a devoted circle of supporters and helped ensure the survival of these once-endangered raptors.

For these attributes and many more, Dave will be greatly missed when he retires from his role as Greenbelt’s Director of Stewardship on September 1. The good news is that he will remain an active member of the community, continuing to lead the Osprey Program.

“Dave definitely elevated our stewardship game at a time when it was becoming increasingly essential to our mission,” says former Greenbelt President Ed Becker, who hired Dave in 2001. “He joined during a period of significant growth at Greenbelt and brought new skills and approaches to the organization that strengthened every aspect of our work — from the hands-on, day-to-day management of properties to long-term planning.”

“Stewardship has grown considerably under Dave’s leadership,” adds current President Chris LaPointe. “We’ve not only expanded the number and variety of properties we manage over the past several decades, but we’ve also improved the overall quality and consistency of our publicly accessible lands. Dave has built a team and a culture that prioritize the visitor experience — feedback we hear time and again from the public.”

As Director of Stewardship, Dave has played a leading role in many of Greenbelt’s most significant conservation and property enhancement projects. These include the protection and public openings of some of the organization’s largest and most iconic properties, such as Donovan Reservation (Hamilton/Essex) and Vineyard Hill Reservation (Hamilton/Topsfield). He also launched Greenbelt’s comprehensive conservation restriction monitoring program and oversaw numerous property improvements throughout the county.

“While Dave has helped advance many meaningful initiatives during his time at Greenbelt, I think all would agree that he’s most closely associated with the Osprey Program,” says Chris. “From installing and maintaining nesting platforms to launching the OspreyCam and engaging dozens of citizen scientists to collect data, his efforts have transformed public understanding of these magnificent birds and have undoubtedly helped boost the local population of nesting pairs. We’re glad he will continue leading this work moving forward.”

A Newbury resident for nearly four decades, Dave joined Greenbelt after serving as Executive Director of the Massachusetts chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association. Prior to that, he worked with The Trustees of Reservations, where he was focused on mitigating human impacts on the environment and protecting wildlife habitat on the Crane Estate in Ipswich.

Planning for Dave’s departure began more than a year ago, when Abby Hardy-Moss was promoted to the newly created position of Vice President of Stewardship, Planning, and Technology. With Dave’s retirement, Mike Carbone has been named Greenbelt’s new Director of Stewardship Field Operations. A dedicated member of the Stewardship team for more than 12 years, Mike brings extensive expertise in both property management and conservation restriction monitoring to the role.