Monthly Archives: May 2006

Newburyport, The Clipper City Rail Trail

The City of Newburyport has scheduled a public meeting on Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at Newburyport City Hall to discuss preliminary plans for the design of Newburyport’s Clipper City Rail Trail along the old rail corridor owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).

In 2005, the City secured a 99-year license from the MBTA to establish a rail trail along this corridor from the commuter rail station to the Merrimack River.

Envisioned first over 30 years ago and referenced most recently in the 2001 Master Plan, 2003 Waterfront Strategic Plan, and 2005 Open Space Plan, the Clipper City Rail Trail has been a priority for the City for many years.

The multi-use pathway will provide an attractive and convenient off-road corridor for residents to walk, run, or bicycle for both recreation and non-motorized transportation purposes.

Establishing the rail trail will discourage dumping and other undesirable activities that tend to occur on abandoned land.

Play equipment and seating areas will be installed along certain portions of the trail. As a new and substantial public space, the trail corridor will provide an expansion of the recreational opportunities available to the community.

The Newburyport Rail Trail will connect the train station to the North End neighborhood and Cashman Park. Eventually, the trail will connect with the downtown’s waterfront and a larger regional network.

Using state, federal, and private grants, the City has recently hired Vollmer Associates, a landscape architecture and engineering firm, for the design phase of this mile-plus trail.

The City hopes to complete the design during 2006, depending upon the review timeframe of the Massachusetts Highway Department. To date, $1.344 million in federal and state construction funding is programmed for this project in the five-year Regional Transportation Improvement Program.

Newburyport’s Planning Office can be contacted for more information.
Please contact Geordie Vining, Senior Project Manager at the Office of Planning & Development, 978.465.4400.

Mary Eaton, Newburyport

(Editor’s Note: This was sent in by the Newburyport Planning Office as a press release. It has been “tweaked” slightly to make it easier to read on the Newburyport Political Blog. And I would like to thank Geordie Vining very much for keeping us all informed.)

The Newburyport City Budget

This is why I wouldn’t want to be mayor of Newburyport, Massachusetts or on the Newburyport City Council. It’s the budget. Not to repeat myself, but there are a lot of things in the City of Newburyport that I might possibly be able to arrive at some sort of solution to, but not this one.

Thank goodness for people who have the talent and the knowledge and the will to begin to be able to figure this one out. It would most definitely keep me up at night.

Looking at the choices that the schools face, it’s heart breaking. I can see why the Newburyport School Committee just could not bring themselves to cut anything more than they already have. Wow.

I’ve always felt that there were no easy answers when it came to the budget, and this year is obviously no exception.

So a very sincere “good luck” to Mayor John Moak and the Newburyport City Council. And “thank you” for all the time and effort and hard work that it takes to tackle something of this magnitude.

Mary Eaton, Newburyport

More Thoughts on the Waterfront

To respond to Mr. Clarridge’s thoughts on the waterfront I would like to share my elderly opinion. I am circulating a petition to have a Senior Center built on the East N.R.A. lot. The Seniors of this City have been ignored for over 25 years and deserve a small share of our most valuable waterfront. This location would be in walking distance for the Seniors in the James Steam Mill and the Sullivan Bldg. Many other Senior Centers are located in the downtown area, close to Public buildings, Post Office and shopping areas. I believe this idea is a lot better than hot topping the whole area for parking for Special Interest groups.

George Roaf, Newburyport

The Post Cracknell Blues

Ok, I’ll admit it, I went home from the Nick Cracknell wake …celebration …rumble, whatever and cried. And the first “no Nick day,” I’ve been wandering around my studio (I’m a painter) hoping I don’t turn the large cheery spring landscape I’m working on into a painting of doom. I’ve also been seriously considering getting the black arm band out and wandering around City Hall, back and forth in front of Mayor John Moak’s office, or maybe just pulling up a chair and glaring at it.

I realize that this is probably a slight over-reaction, which surprises even me. It feels like a death. Like when I know someone will die, but when they actually do, I can hardly believe it is final. Happy Mr. Moak?

I was glad to read the editorial in the Newburyport Daily News today about Mr. Cracknell’s departure and what in the world Mr. Moak has in mind. It was not only full of good information, but it sounded downright angry and passionate. Good. Great editorial.

And Mr. Ryan of the Undertoad Blog says John Moak is stunned by the reaction to the axing of Mary Lou Supple and Nick Cracknell. Good. Get it yet Mr. Moak?

And from reading Friday’s Newburyport Current, I know who’s going to be in my sight lines in the coming weeks and months. Maybe they’ll be “Eatoned.”

And for all of you out there in web-land who didn’t attend the farewell Nick Cracknell shindig, well, it was quite something. First of all the Masonic Hall was packed. The “toasts” or appreciation speeches went on for a good hour. During the whole time there was clapping, wild cheering, whistling, stomping of feet, a standing ovation. And let’s not forget the entire hall spontaneously singing along to some inspired lyrics. Pyrrhic victory, Mr. Moak? You bettcha.

I guess I’m going to be dusting off my activist hat. Happily, I haven’t needed it in the last 4 years. I imagine that lots of activists are doing the same thing.

Wow, what a mess you have made Mr. Moak.

Mary Eaton, Newburyport