Salisbury Beach State Reservation
| Salisbury Beach State Reservation | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Salisbury, Massachusetts, United States |
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| Area | 355 acres (144 ha)[1] |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Established | 1931[2] |
| Administrator | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Lua error in Module:Official_website at line 94: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
Salisbury Beach State Reservation is a public recreation area on the Atlantic Ocean in the town of Salisbury, Massachusetts, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.[3] It is one of the most heavily utilized state parks in the Commonwealth, with "an annual attendance rate of over one million visitors."[4]
History
[edit | edit source]During the American Civil War the Fort at Salisbury Point was built on the site, which was eventually lost due to beach erosion.[5] The land was acquired for use as a state park in 1931.[2] It saw improvements in the following decade done by the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps.[6] During World War II the site included a gun battery as the Salisbury Beach Military Reservation.[7] The reservation came under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation in 1969.[4] Continuing park improvements include the construction of a new jetty in 2015.[3] In March 2024, coastal flooding eroded 7,500 tons of sand placed on the beach at a cost of $600,000 as part of a beachfront restoration effort by local property owners.[8]
Wildlife
[edit | edit source]Notable wildlife includes harbor seals, which are often found on 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.[4] "White-winged and surf scoters can be seen flying low over open water or bobbing in loose flocks among the offshore waves."[9]
Activities and amenities
[edit | edit source]The park features a 3.8-mile-long (6.1 km) beach on the Atlantic Ocean, non-swimming beaches on the Merrimack River,[10] a 484-site campground, motorized and non-motorized boating, picnicking, playground and pavilion, fishing, and educational programs.[3]
References
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- ^ Salisbury Beach Base-End Station and 155 mm Gun Battery at American Forts Network
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Salisbury Beach State Reservation Department of Conservation and Recreation
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