SAVE THE DATE – Sunday May 23, 2010

COASTAL TRAILS GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION

CTC is leading efforts to plan a fun, family-oriented regional celebration of the new rail-trails in Newburyport and Salisbury. The afternoon event will feature activities along the trails, including a community cookout, guided tours, exhibits, and children’s activities. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind grand opening event recognizing these great new additional to our public park systems.

During the past year with CTC’s assistance and with the continuing support of our Congressman John Tierney, State Senator Steven Baddour and State Representative Mike Costello, the four local communities have made major progress in developing the trail network.  Accomplishments and noteworthy activities in 2009 include:

CLIPPER CITY RAIL TRAIL NEARS COMPLETION IN NEWBURYPORT

Construction is nearing completion on Newburyport’s Clipper City Rail Trail (Phase 1) from the MBTA station to the Merrimack River.  The 1.1 mile trail is fully paved and a striking new 85-foot pedestrian bridge has been installed over Low Street.  The trail will be completed early in 2010.  Construction of the trail was funded with almost $3 million from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

HARBORWALK BUILT IN NEWBURYPORT 

The City of Newburyport also built a westward extension of its Harborwalk along the Merrimack River.  The new 450-foot boardwalk connects the Clipper City Rail Trail with Cashman Park and the westernmost section of the Harborwalk located beyond the park.  The Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council granted the City of Newburyport $450,000 to help construct the project, which also benefited from a $50,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Recreational Trails Program.

EASTERN MARSH TRAIL NEARS COMPLETION IN SALISBURY

Construction is almost finished on a 1.4 mile section of the Old Eastern Marsh Trail from the Merrimack River to Mudnock Road in Salisbury.  The trail features beautiful views across the Great Marsh and the Merrimack River and abundant wildlife.  MassDOT provided $1.4 million to construct the trail.  When completed it will be the first link in Salisbury’s north-south rail trail that will ultimately extend to the New Hampshire border and connect residential areas with the town’s parks and elementary school. CTC volunteers designed several trial-side interpretive signs which were funded by the CTC, the Essex National Heritage Commission and the Salisbury Cultural Council. CTC also provided funds to plant wildflowers along the trail. 

SALISBURY POINT GHOST TRAIL EXTENDED IN SALISBURY

The Town of Salisbury completed an extension of the Salisbury Point Ghost Trail from Cushing Street to Lion’s Park that was funded with a $50,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Recreational Trails Program and a $5,000 grant from Fields Pond Foundation.  SPS New England made a major in-kind contribution by removing hundreds of old railroad ties from the rail bed and grading the trail.  This trail offers a beautiful walk through the woods in Salisbury and connects residential neighborhoods to Lion’s Park and its ball fields as well as to Salisbury Square.

ADDITIONAL FUNDS SECURED FOR RIVERWALK DESIGN IN AMESBURY 

The Town of Amesbury received an additional commitment of $50,900 in state funding to complete designs for the extension of the 1.5-mile Riverwalk into downtown.  The central element of the design is a 400-foot-long bridge linking the Riverwalk with Main Street.  Future plans include extending the Riverwalk another mile to meet the Salisbury Point Ghost Trail in Salisbury.

CTC SEEKS FUNDING FOR BORDER TO BOSTON TRAIL    

CTC communities and members, the Essex National Heritage Commission and the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission have continued to actively participate in the Border to Boston Trail Coalition.  The coalition is seeking to use federal highway funds obtained by Congressman John Tierney to help towns and cities design and build the proposed 28 mile rail-trail extending from Salisbury to Danvers.  Locally, this long-term effort would provide funds to design Salisbury’s remaining north-south trail and link the MBTA commuter rail station in Newburyport to the Byfield section of Newbury and points south.

CTC PROVIDES GRANT TO NEWBURYPORT 

The CTC granted $5,000 to the City of Newburyport to help purchase benches, trash receptacles, signage, sculpture, and play equipment, trailside, amenities not included in original Clipper City Rail Trail construction project. Installation will begin in Spring 2010.

CTC PROVIDES GRANT TO SALISBURY

The CTC made a $2,000 grant to the Town of Salisbury to help design a link between the Old Eastern Marsh Trail and the Gillis Bridge allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to safely access the trail from Newburyport and Ring’s Island without crossing US Route 1.  The link would pass under the Gillis Bridge next to the Merrimack River.

CTC ORGANIZES WORK DAYS AND HISTORY RIDE  

CTC members organized trail clean-ups in Amesbury, Newburyport, and Salisbury as part of Earth Week 2009 sponsored by the Greater Newburyport Eco Collaborative, and participated in a trail clean-up on November 28 sponsored by Salisbury Coastal Trails. CTC also partnered with the Newburyport Preservation Trust and Riverside Cycles to lead a three-hour bike ride highlighting the historic North End of Newburyport on October 3rd.           

CTC ADVOCATES FOR MERRIMACK RIVER CROSSING 

The CTC is advocating as a regional stakeholder to have pedestrian and bicycle accommodations incorporated into the design of the new Whittier Bridge (I-95) across the Merrimack River.  Proposed facilities, including a dedicated lane over the river, would permit access from Amesbury and Salisbury not only to Maudslay State Park and Moseley Woods, but also to Route 113 and the commuter bus terminal in Newburyport.  Activities have included testifying at MassDOT public meetings, writing letters and appearing before the Massachusetts Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board to obtain their support.

CTC MAINTAINS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS 

CTC members actively participate in meetings of the Essex National Heritage Commission, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, the Massachusetts Trails and Greenways Task Force, and Massachusetts Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.