Salisbury's Coastal Trail Group put together another Earth Day volunteer work effort last week that has made the town's recreational trail initiative a success.

With the help of many, two bridges were built, fencing erected on Cushing Street and along the rail, entrance signs established at Lion's Park and Cushing Street and groundstone put down along portions of the rails.

Volunteers from Timberland Corporation's employee volunteer work program has brought hundreds of volunteers to Salisbury's recreational trail project over the past five years, according to Selectman and recreation trail enthusiast Jerry Klima. The help of the corporate partner has been immensely valuable, Klima said, but Timberland is not alone in its efforts to help Salisbury eventually create recreation trails stretching north to south, from the New Hampshire border to Newburyport, and east to west from the beach to Amesbury.

Salisbury's trail project has been fortunate to amass critical partnerships with many entities. Local volunteers have offered muscle power that would cost the town hundreds of thousands of dollars if it had to purchase the labor. Klima said the estimated cost of creating recreation trails is $1 million a mile. Yet with the help of its partner and volunteers, Salisbury created seven-tenths of a mile of rail trail for about $10,000.

How does that happen? Klima said with a concerted effort of many, like the vital roles Town Planner Lisa Pearson and Salisbury's Public Works Department have played in the project from the start. The expertise, people and equipment from Salisbury-headquartered SPS New England have made seemingly impossible projects happen with volunteers manning shovels, rakes, chainsaws and wheelbarrows.

Funding from state and private sources is also a pivotal part of making the trail creation work, Klima said. Funding of Salisbury's efforts over the years has come from the Coastal Rail Trail Coalition, the Institution for Savings, the Essex National Heritage Commission and the Field's Pond Foundation. MassHighway and federal transportation funds will also be part of the project before it is completed, Klima said, and to start things off in the early 1990s, Salisbury taxpayers contributed about $30,000 for a portion of the land that will give Salisbury almost six miles of trails.

The most important part of the project was negotiating and acquiring control of the 5.8 miles within the town's borders that will become recreation trails in coming years. Along with the portion purchased by the town in the last decade, a 99-year lease of its former railbeds from the MBTA was obtained through the help of state Sen. Steven Baddour (D-Methuen) and state Rep. Michael Costello (D-Newburyport), Klima said.

In addition, easements from Ann Jones and recently John St. Cyr link other vital portions of the trail together. St. Cyr — owner of the Batting Cages — is also allowing cars to park at his site on Elm Street, to access the trail. And a future easement through a future business park is pledged from Jim Vaughn of Vaughn Manufacture. It will complete that section of the east-west trail, linking Salisbury to Amesbury.

Currently, Salisbury has control of all the land needed to complete its trails, with construction yet to be funded and completed, Klima said. But funding is being lined up, he said, again, with the help of many, including U.S. Congressman John Tierney.

Many already enjoy the Salisbury Point Ghost Trail as a great place to walk for exercise or with their pets and children, Klima said.

When completed, and added to trail systems in progress in surrounding towns, walking and bike trails will link Salisbury from the sea and its border with New Hampshire to and through Newburyport, Amesbury, Newbury and Plum Island. There is also a movement that would link recreational trails all the way to Boston in decades to come, and with the help of many more.

nnn

The Ring's Island Water District will flush fire hydrants on Thursday evening, May 1 from 8 through midnight. Due to flushing, water pressure may drop for a short period of time, and water may appear brown or rusty. Residents are discouraged from doing laundry during this time.

For more information, contact Paul Colby at 978-994-6321

nnn

The Sea Spray Garden Club will hold its next meeting on Monday, May 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. at East Parish United Methodist Church, 8 Lafayette Road.

The guest speaker is Jean Anderson. She will discuss terrarium gardens.

Anderson has an extensive background in horticulture, and is a presenter at the New England Flower Show. She also teaches classes in her own back yard.

New members and guests are always welcome at the club's monthly meetings. For more information, call 978-388-4848.

Angeljean Chiaramida covers Salisbury for The Daily News. She can be reached at 978-462-6666, ext. 3271 or by e-mail at achiaramida@newburyportnews. com.