© Newburyport Daily News
By Dave Rogers
Staff writer
—
State Rep. Michael Costello, D-Newburyport, standing next to Newburyport Mayor Donna Holaday and other officials, called the state park the "jewel of all state parks." "When we're all gone, this park will still be here," Costello said, adding that the park marked a great example of government working for its citizens.
The park officially opened on Aug. 15, 1985, with then-Gov. Michael Dukakis and former Newburyport state Sen. Nicholas Costello on hand to welcome the first visitors. A photo of the occasion was taped to the front of the podium that served as the focal point for yesterday's celebration.
About 100,000 people visit the park annually, and since its opening, more than 500 weddings have been performed there. It is nationally known for its 16 miles of trails, its picturesque views of the Merrimack River and its mountain laurels. The opening was anything but a guarantee, Costello said after the ceremony, as he had to persuade two governors to approve spending the $5 million needed to purchase the land from the Moseley family. The Helen Moseley House burned down in 1978. "I had a doubt it would be here to begin with," Costello said, standing near a birch tree he said he helped plant 25 years ago when the park opened.
The former Amesbury mayor said he first had to convince then-Gov. Ed King to buy the land, going as far as borrowing a forestry truck from the Newburyport Fire Department and touring the land with King. "He bought the idea," Costello said. The bill went through the Statehouse, but by the time a deal was hammered out with the Moseley family, King had been succeeded by Dukakis.
"He fell in love with the place too," Costello said.
The ceremony concluded with a show of thanks to the more than 200 volunteers who make up the Maudslay State Park Association. The association received a certificate of appreciation for the countless hours and many dollars spent to make sure the park remains in pristine condition.
Department of Conservation and Recreation assistant commissioner Priscilla Geigis called the association the great ambassadors of Maudslay State Park.
"Personally, you can make more money, but you can never get your time back," Geigis said, referring to the countless hours the association has volunteered.
Maudslay State Park Association vice president Cynthia Palladino accepted the certificate on behalf of her fellow volunteers.
"It was a total thrill to be the representative for the friends (association)," Palladino said, sitting next to Natalie Brown, one of the founders of the association in attendance. Afterwards, officials and visitors posed for a group shot and then cut into two cakes that were set out on a large picnic table.
The ceremony was part of a park-wide birthday party. Hundreds flocked to the state park to enjoy free hayrides, children's activities, gardening workshops and tours. Currently, the park is sprinkled with artwork, ranging from a massive array of multi-colored flags to depict a dragon and a hanging collection of tree branches that visitors could manipulate with strings.
"Happy birthday, grass," said 3-year-old James Graves of Rowley, there with his twin sister, Madeline, and aunt, Ana Graves.
Graves said she often takes her niece and nephew to the park for one reason in particular.
"The wide-open spaces for two 3-year-olds to run," Graves said. Graves said it meant a great deal to have a state park so close by. "They take such great care of it," Graves said.
