Community
Community Organizations
The Other Half of a Small City
City Hall does not carry Newburyport alone. A hospital, a chamber of commerce, two libraries, an arts association, a theater and a school foundation all operate here, and every one of them is a place a student can call, volunteer at, or ask for an internship. These are the organizations whose names come up at council meetings and in the budget, so knowing them is part of knowing how the city runs.
| Anna Jaques Hospital | The city’s hospital, at 25 Highland Avenue, part of Beth Israel Lahey Health. 978-463-1000. |
| Newburyport Public Library | A city department and a destination, at 94 State Street. Head Librarian Kevin Bourque. (978) 465-4428. |
| Emma L. Andrews Library and Community Center | A community library and program space at 77 Purchase Street, with its own city commission. |
| Custom House Maritime Museum | Exhibits Native American history, the settlement and colonial period, the Revolutionary War, and maritime and Coast Guard history. |
| Newburyport Art Association | Founded in 1948. Exhibits member work and runs art education open to all. |
| Firehouse Center for the Arts | A performing arts venue at 1 Market Square, with a full season, education programs and auditions open to residents. |
| YWCA Greater Newburyport | Child care, housing and wellness programs in Newburyport. |
| Newburyport Education Foundation | Raises private money for the city’s public schools and has given the district more than four million dollars. |
| Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry | The regional business association, representing members from Salisbury to Topsfield. |
Open Space and the River
- Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Federal refuge land on Plum Island, at the mouth of the Merrimack.
- Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center. On the Plum Island Turnpike, running programs on the estuary the city sits beside.
- Maudslay State Park. State park land on the Merrimack at the city’s western edge.
- Clipper City Rail Trail and Harborwalk. The path that connects downtown to the waterfront, built and maintained through the city’s Office of Planning and Development.
Who Covers Newburyport
Knowing which outlet covers a meeting is a civic skill of its own, because a reporter in the room is often the only record a resident will read.
- The Daily News of Newburyport. The city’s daily paper, covering Newburyport and the communities around it.
- Greater Newburyport Community Media Hub. Carries City Council meetings live on Channel 9, streams them, and posts the recordings.
Volunteering on a city board is its own door, and seats open regularly.