Salisbury Beach State Reservation

Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Massachusetts State Park
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Essex
Town Salisbury
River Merrimack River
Elevation 10 ft (3 m) [1]
Coordinates 42°49′35.4″N 70°49′2.8″W / 42.826500°N 70.817444°W / 42.826500; -70.817444Coordinates: 42°49′35.4″N 70°49′2.8″W / 42.826500°N 70.817444°W / 42.826500; -70.817444
Area 355 acres (144 ha) [2]
Established 1931[3]
Management Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Location in Massachusetts
Website: Salisbury Beach State Reservation

Salisbury Beach State Reservation is a state-owned, public recreation area on the Atlantic Ocean in the town of Salisbury, Massachusetts, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.[4] It is one of the most heavily utilized state parks in the Commonwealth, with "an annual attendance rate of over one million visitors."[5]

History

The land was acquired for use as a state park in 1931.[3] It saw improvements in the following decade done by the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps.[6] The reservation came under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation in 1969.[5] Continuing park improvements include the construction of a new jetty in 2015.[4]

Wildlife

Notable wildlife includes harbor seals, which are often found Badgers Rocks in the Merrimack River in the fall and winter. Birds that can be sighted include black ducks, green-winged teal, and great blue herons, along with pectoral, solitary, and least sandpipers.[5] "White-winged and surf scoters can be seen flying low over open water or bobbing in loose flocks among the offshore waves."[7]

Activities and amenities

References

  1. "Salisbury Beach State Reservation". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "2012 Acreage Listing" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. April 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Massachusetts (June 30, 1931). "Chapter 442. An act ... authorizing the taking for maintenance as a state reservation of certain parcels of land at Salisbury Beach" (PDF). Acts, 1931. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Salisbury Beach State Reservation". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Salisbury Beach State Reservation Barrier Beach Management Plan" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. September 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  6. Shary Page Berg (1999). Beth McKinney, ed. "The Civilian Conservation Corps: A Statewide Survey of Civilian Conservation Corps Resources". Massachusetts Office of Historic Resources. p. 41. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  7. "Salisbury Beach State Reservation". Wildlife Viewing Areas. Watchable Wildlife, Inc. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  8. "Salisbury Beach Visitor's Guide". Retrieved August 5, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/20/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.