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Beautiful natural resources like Maudslay State Park, the Merrimack River and Salisbury Beach make the First Essex District a great place to live and an alluring attraction to visit. Mike has worked hard to preserve and enhance the natural environment by creating new open spaces for people to enjoy, providing additional public access to the water and creating a system of rail trails to accommodate alternative modes of transportation.
At Newburyport's Common Pasture preserved 200 acres that support a wide variety of both wetland and grassland plants and animals.
Through a State grant, Mike annexed the so-called Mulligan property to Maudsley. This helped preserve and add to the beauty of the State Park, continuing the legacy of his father Nicholas to preserve open space and provide recreational opportunities for the people of Greater Newburyport.
The Salisbury great marsh was enhanced with the acquisition of 400 acres from National Grid and the Wheeler family at Sweet Appletree Lane.
Through the 2008 environmental bond bill earmark Mike secured funding to renovate the Cashman Park boat launch, one of the busiest boat launches in the state.
Mike worked with the MBTA to obtain rights adjacent to the railbed in Salisbury for the development of a 60’ by 600’ foot parcel on the Merrimack River. The facility includes dock space for 40 dinghies, parking and an operation center for the Salisbury Harbor Master. A small, public launching ramp for kayaks, canoes and
small rowboats was also included.
Mike obtained a grant through the Massachusetts Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Program to refurbish historic Brown Square
Park. The project includes landscaping, the creation of a public plaza, the addition of a handicapped-accessible pathway and the construction of new park benches and
a drinking fountain.
“Mike Costello gets results”
Linda Hergus
Channel 7 Reporter
As beautiful as nature is, it can be equally unpredictable. On those occasions when storms have raged, rivers have flooded and beaches have eroded, Mike has been
there to help his constituents. Perhaps Channel 7 reporter Linda Hergus said it best: “Mike Costello gets results.”
Among Mike's earliest priorities in the House was addressing flooding of the Blackwater River Estuary. Mike worked hard to bring the resources of the Army Corps
of Engineers and the Department of Conservation and Recreation to address the situation. Ultimately, the project provided flood relief for 135 home between 9th Street
and Florence Avenue, and prevented an estimated $845,800 of damage from occurring annually.
Also secured a $75,000 grant from DCR
Amesbury Upper Millyard
Plum Island Beach for Mother’s Day Flood