October 3, 2005 (Newburyport, MA) … The Coastal Trails Coalition (CTC) will hold its first annual meeting on Tuesday, October 18, at 7:00 p.m. at PITA Hall on Plum Island in Newbury. A brief business meeting will be followed by an overview of the group’s trails projects in Amesbury, Newbury, Newburyport and Salisbury. Anyone interested in learning more about the CTC is welcome to attend.

The CTC is a non-profit organization advocating for the Coastal Trails Network, a 30-mile public system of bicycle and pedestrian trails linking the communities of Amesbury, Newbury, Newburyport and Salisbury. To date, several miles of trails have been opened, offering residents and visitors a healthy, alternative means of exercising, commuting and enjoying the region’s abundant natural, historic and cultural resources.

For more information, visit the CTC website at www.coastaltrails.org.

-- ## --

The Coastal Trails Coalition is composed of citizens, organizations and communities of the Lower Merrimack Valley. Its mission is to advocate for a public system of interconnected bicycle and pedestrian trails linking the region’s unique coastal features with town centers, neighborhoods, and transportation hubs. The Coalition receives technical assistance and support from the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program, the Essex National Heritage Commission and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. For more information, visit the website at www.coastaltrails.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Sally Carlson

SC Communications

978/465-2135