Physical Setting and Attributes

• The Green is the central square of New Haven's original nine-square settlement plan; located on the lower portion of the Green are the Bennett Fountain, built in 1907, and a marble World War I memorial with flag pole on the site where liberty poles were raised
• Other amenities installed in the early 20th century; walkways located along edges, across the  middle, and on diagonals of the Green; granite fountain constructed  in 2003
• First American elm and buttonwood trees planted on grounds in 1759 and around 1840; disease-resistant elms planted during the 1980s to replace older elms, many of which died from Dutch elm disease
• Bus stops run along either side of the Green, improving accessibility and making the Green convenient to non-motorists

Private Land Managed For Public Benefit

• In 1641, English engineer John Brockett platted the village and created the Green as a marketplace with a meeting house at the center; the Green is privately owned; in 1805 prominent New Haven residents who retain legal rights to control the Green's common land form a committee that assumes these responsibilities;  subsequent committee members hold the Green's legal rights to this day
• The Green now designated a city park district, ensuring it remains in the public domain

Historic Architecture

• Between 1812 and 1816 three churches were constructed and still stand on the Green today: the Federal style United Church, the Georgian style Center Church, and the Gothic Revival Trinity Episcopal Church, one of the first churches of that style built in the U.S.
• The streets facing the Green have a great variety of historic buildings, including several structures built in the mid-1700s — the federal-style Nicholas Callahan and John Pierpont houses, Yale's "Old" Campus
• Other buildings contributing to the Green's historic streetscape surroundings include the Governor Ralph Isaacs Ingersoll house (Greek revival, 1829); the Exchange Building (four-story Greek Revival, 1832); colonial-style  New Haven Free Public Library (1908); federal courthouse (Classical Revival, 1913); and the New Haven County Courthouse (Beaux-Arts neoclassical, 1914)
• Named a National Historic Landmark in 1970; also on the Connecticut Register of Historic Places

British Spare Town; Smart Growth Shapes New Development

• General George Washington addressed soldiers from New Haven on the Green
• Occupying troops spared New Haven during American Revolution, unlike other nearby towns that were burned, because British General Charles Garth surveyed the city and remarked New Haven was "too beautiful a town to burn" (Branch, 1911)
•  New Haven commits to practicing Smart Growth, including increasing residential density and allowing mixed uses (commercial, retail, dining, and entertainment) around the Green

Historic Preservation

• Part of the 501-acre local Dover Green Historic District established in 1961 and added to National Register of Historic Places in 1977; review required for exterior renovation, additions, demolition, and new construction in district, which currently has 79 buildings
• Majority of buildings surrounding The Green architecturally noteworthy; styles include Colonial Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Federal, Neo-Georgian
• The Old State House (1791) is iconic; the Georgian-styled building's noteworthy architectural details include gilt sunflower ceiling sham and grand, dual stairways that served as portal to state's legislative chambers
• Brick outline on sidewalk in front of Old State House shows where 1776 Declaration of Independence read publicly, sparking celebration and burning of King George's portrait
• Modernization of State House in 1873 added mansard roof and central front tower, hiding original front door and Palladian window; new design attacked by many. Building saved from demolition by Colonial Dames, which persuaded legislature to restore colonial appearance in 1909; $3.5 million building upgrade completed in 2007
• Tax credit and incentive programs for historic preservation available at city, county, state, and federal levels for certified historic properties in Dover. Delaware Preservation Fund, Inc. offers short-term, low-interest loans for rehabilitation projects. Downtown Dover Partnership administers facade grant program.
• The Green has benches and historically appropriate replica gaslight lamps
• Historic markers surrounding The Green designate important events and milestones; one graces site of former Golden Fleece Tavern where Delaware became first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution (December 7, 1787)
• Delaware's Continental Regiment mustered at The Green during the American Revolution; monument in front of Old State House commemorates Delaware's Revolutionary War soldiers
• To rid themselves of a ghost, townspeople dug a grave on The Green in 1745 and held an elaborate funeral for a former chief justice

Commitment to Planning

• Dover, including The Green, laid out in 1717; city and other area that eventually becomes Delaware was part of original land grant by the Duke of York to William Penn
• City completed first comprehensive plan in 1960; zoning ordinance followed in 1961; ordinance created local historic district and established zoning overlay for historic area
• Creation of Historic District Commission in 1993 led to adoption of design standards and guidelines for historic district
• The Green is central to Dover's heritage tourism program; part of First State Heritage Park, a museum without walls offering exhibits, tours, and special programs

Mix of Uses

• The Green is home to a variety of uses: judicial, residential, cultural, recreational, and professional
• Court first held in area that is now The Green as early as 1680; by 1699 a courthouse was erected and used until 1722 when sold for use as a tavern; a new courthouse was erected on the east side of The Green where courts met until 1874
• Present Neo-Georgian-style courthouse (1875) sits on original site on park's eastern edge; Supreme Court of Delaware meets in charming brick building (1912), separated from the Old State House next door in 1974
• Several historic office buildings, often Italianate, built on The Green in mid 1800s; examples include Kirk Building, Short Memorial Building, Old Farmers Bank Building
• Numerous historic residences of prominent Dover politicians, judges, and business leaders surround The Green; the Ridgely House (1728 Colonial Revival) is city's oldest building
• Site of lawn bowling games in the Colonial era, today The Green is used by neighborhood children for tag, catch, informal games; also hosts summer concerts and special events such as Art on the Green, First Night Dover, Old Dover Days

Three Centuries of Planning

• In 1733 James Oglethorpe, Trustee of Georgia on behalf of the British Parliament, founded Savannah and personally laid out the first six squares (initially four followed by two more) in order to create a classless agrarian society
• City officials recognized the value of the grid-with-centered-squares design; in 1796 nine additional squares were included to accommodate city growth; the pattern continued until the 24th square was set aside in 1856
• In 1935, three squares were destroyed to make way for U.S. Hwy 17; one of the lost squares, Franklin Square was rebuilt in 1985
• Georgia's state legislature established the Savannah-Chatham County Historic Site and Monument Commission in 1949 to oversee the restoration of monuments and public art in the squares and the building of new ones; commission remains active, recommending to city council new monuments and public art for squares
• Engaged citizens help draft Downtown Master Plan now under final review; one principle entails retaining elements of Oglethorpe Plan in order to promote the squares' quality public space and amenities throughout downtown

Defines Savannah Town Plan

• Downtown Savannah comprises seven-acre wards or neighborhoods, each centered around a square with four trust lots and eight larger tithing blocks; trust lots typically contain a civic institution such as a church or government building, tithing lots generally contain residential with offices, small retail shops, and inns interspersed
• For approximately 100 years, Ellis Square was home to four public markets and a social gathering place; between 1954 and 2004 the city leased the Ellis Square property as a multi-story parking garage; parking garage has been removed and the square is now being rebuilt as a public space (completion expected by December 2009)

Iconic Community Space

• Most squares contain at least one feature in the center, such as a monument, statue, fountain, obelisk, gazebo, public art
• All squares contain benches, period lighting, brick sidewalks, and shade trees; extensive landscaping and vibrant colors from flowers including azaleas, camellias, and seasonal blooms
• Approximately 15,000 people use the squares each day
• Squares used for private and public events, including the St. Patrick's Day Parade, summer concerts, and private events including weddings and receptions

Promotes Walkability

• Squares located at intersections of two streets, thus calming traffic and making the pedestrian environment safer and more pleasant
• Walkways through squares connect to various close-by destinations in neighborhoods and downtown
• Monuments, other architectural details make squares interesting and engaging places to walk and experience

World-Class Amenities

• Home of Lincoln Park Zoo (free admission); opened with gift of two mute swans from New York's Central Park Zoo in 1868; now has some 2,300 animals
• Park's Conservatory (free admission) constructed in stages (1890-1895); showcases exotic plants and grows thousands needed for park use; four greenhouses
• Theater on the Lake built in 1920; originally recuperation ward for tuberculosis-infected babies; June through August showcases professional theater companies
• Chicago History Museum is city's oldest cultural institution (1856); destroyed during Great Fire of 1871 and temporarily housed in stone structure in park. Collection includes bed where President Lincoln died
• Chicago Academy of Sciences, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum; has three green rooftops, water conservation systems, solar panels, exhibits using recycled materials

Historic Nature

• Added to National Register of Historic Places in 1994
• South Pond Refectory (Cafe Brauer) designed by Dwight H. Perkins and completed in 1908. Outstanding example of Prairie-style architecture; ground floor cafe open; second floor Great Hall fine example of Arts and Crafts design
• Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool named National Historic Landmark in 2006. Three-acre pool one of city's premier Prairie-style landscapes designed by Caldwell in 1930s
• Carlson Cottage, 120-year-old comfort station, excellent example of Victorian-era design. Now used for zoo's volunteer gardening program following $1 million restoration
• Lion House (1912), designed by Dwight H. Perkins, displays fine craftsmanship and geometric masonry ornamentation, including visually distinctive brick lion mosaics
• Public art is prominent throughout the park. Dozens of strategically placed statues; Abraham Lincoln 1887 bronze at south end of park: Augustus Saint-Gaudens, sculptor, and Stanford White, architect

Planning and Improvements

• Nurseryman Swain Nelson's 1865 design for park features rolling landscape made from dredged sand with three connecting ponds, trees, lawns, and winding paths
• Lincoln Park Board of Commissioners formed in 1869 to expedite transfer of bodies from cemetery so park can be expanded; only one family mausoleum, Couch tomb, remains
• Nelson and partner Olaf Benson created expansion plan for park in 1873
• State legislature granted Lincoln Park Commission right in 1895 to reclaim submerged lands, paving way for park expansion; space nearly doubled in size between 1904 and 1910; park essentially completed by 1957
• Lake Shore Drive extended to Lincoln Park as boulevard link to southern parks (1957)
• Montrose Extension, designed by Ernst Schroeder and Alfred Caldwell, started in 1930s; features dramatically sculptured landforms and naturalistic landscapes
• Lincoln Park Framework Plan developed in 1995; amended in 2008
• Public transit serves Lincoln Park via several buses and three L trains

Engaged and Active Citizens

• In 1858 a physician calls city's only public cemetery a health threat from buried bodies  leaching cholera into city water supply; urges replacement of cemetery with a park
• Lincoln Park Advisory Council formed in mid-1980s following a consent-decree ruling with Chicago Park District that settled a suit pertaining to discrimination in funding; group was instrumental in developing 1995 Framework Plan
• Established in 1984, Friends of Lincoln Park is now Lincoln Park Conservancy; nonprofit group identifies park assets in need, such as Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, restores them, and commits to long-term care and programming; co-manages assets with Park District

Location and Qualities

• The park adjoining Bridge Street has a wide sidewalk, an array of benches, and three areas for panoramic views of downtown Charlevoix storefronts, Round Lake, and Lake Charlevoix in the distance
• The park's grassy area allows for general recreational use including walking, picnicking, and sunbathing as well as festivals and community events
• The area closest to the water and marina has concerts, picnic, and seating areas along the entire length of the park
• The core of storefronts in the central  business district look directly over East Park onto Round Lake; the park's proximity to downtown housing, including upper-story apartments, condominiums, and lofts, attracts constant use by residents and visitors
• All utilities and power lines are underground

Long-term Vision and Organic Planning Effort

• Park land acquired incrementally starting in 1925 after a fire destroyed a building and opened a view of the waterfront from Bridge Street  
• Mayor Robert Bridge (1938-1946) followed through on his vision for expanded access to the waterfront, acquiring numerous parcels and turning them into parkland
• Subsequent mayors continued his vision; as the park expanded, it went through various design changes
• Current Mayor Norm Carlson remembers living in Charlevoix when he was younger and going to East Park to dangle his feet off the docks, listen to the live band concerts, or play on the shuffleboard courts that used to be there
• In 1982, a new design plan for the park was drafted in conjunction with the city's first Master Plan, which included a Waterfront Area Management Plan adopted by the Planning Commission
• Charlevoix's Downtown Development Authority passed a Tax Increment Financing and Development Plan in 1982, which was used to finance various projects in East Park including $200,000 for the interactive fountain
• Final building on East Park parcels razed in 2002; community design process follows and in 2007 the $11 million park and marina reconstruction begins; park officially reopened in 2008 for Venetian Festival

Environmental Best Practices

• New marina is certified a "Clean Marina" by Michigan Sea Grant, a University of Michigan program promoting research and education to achieve sustainable coasts
• The three-tiered greenspace design, addition of green roofs, and removal of a parking lot all contributed to reduce direct runoff into Round Lake
• Both the Harbormaster's Building and Odmark performing arts pavilion are heated and cooled with geothermal energy; motion sensors control building lighting
• Recycled, closed loop water used for trout pond and interactive water fountain

Amenities

• Interactive Water Fountain is the result of a joint effort between citizens and Downtown Development Authority;  fountain uses heated clean water that shoots up and sprays  to delight of children; fountain timing can be sequenced with music and light shows
• East Park boasts a newly reconstructed stone-built band shell, the Clarence Odmark Pavilion, with natural acoustics and built-in hillside seating
• Harbormaster's office is located unobtrusively below-ground; includes street-level viewing plaza, public restrooms, and an interactive, lighted water fountain

Visionary Planning and Plan Implementation

• First park superintendent, Captain William Morse Berry (1885-1905), began initial land acquisition to implement Horace Cleveland's vision; Park Board purchased land for Chain of Lakes, Minnehaha Falls, Saratoga Springs-Glenwood, Powderhorn, Minnehaha Parkway, Columbia, East River Bank, and The Parade
• Second park superintendent, Theodore Wirth (1906-1935), continued work of Berry; during Wirth's 30-year tenure portions of Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles were dredged; Wirth Parkway paved, creating more than 16 continuous miles of paved trails from East Hennepin Avenue to William Berry Park; park buildings, golf courses and concession stands opened
• In 2007, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board adopted a new comprehensive plan that details the vision for the park system to 2020; recommended major initiative to construct the Missing Link — a three-mile-long segment that will complete Cleveland's plan and make The Grand Rounds a completely connected, continuous loop around the city

Connected to City Streets, Neighborhoods

• Connects all four major quadrants of Minneapolis — north, east, south and west; connects residential areas with neighborhood commercial areas and city's downtown business district
• Divided into seven segments: Downtown Riverfront; Mississippi River; Minnehaha; Chain of Lakes (Lakes Harriet, Calhoun, Isles, Cedar and Brownie); Theodore Wirth; Victory Memorial; Northeast
• Linear and connective design makes it close and easily accessible throughout the city and ensures all residents and visitors can use the system; no user fees 
• Separated tier system accommodates multiple users: pedestrian paths are located nearest to the river, lake, creek, or woodland to allow pedestrians to enjoy the spectacle without vehicular interruption; bicycle paths are located adjacent to pedestrian paths; parkways for motorists are located furthest away

Passive and Active Uses

• System connects 14 natural lakes in city — Sweeney, Twin, Wirth, Brownie, Cedar, Diamond, Taft, Mother, and Grass lakes, and Lake of the Isles, Lakes Calhoun, Harriet, Nokomis, and Hiawatha; other water bodies along The Grand Rounds include Minnehaha Creek, the Mississippi River and  several lagoons or ponds
• Scenic views throughout the paths and parkway system of city lakes, Mississippi River gorge, Minnehaha Falls, St. Anthony Falls and Minneapolis skyline
• Opportunities for recreational activities along system abound: playing fields; basketball volley ball, and tennis courts; golf courses, swimming beaches; trails for bike-riding, roller-blading, jogging, and walking; lakes for sailing, wind surfing, and fishing; cross-country ski trails
• The annual Minneapolis Bike Tour showcases quality bike routes in the Grand Rounds with two routes that are closed to motorized traffic; event draws nearly 3,800 riders in 2009

Location and Access

• In heart of downtown, thus provides access from all directions. Three main roadways — from south, northeast and northwest — converge on square; east-west connector crosses Main Street on south edge of Central Square.
• City Express bus service connects square to residential neighborhoods, commercial areas and Keene State College. Regional bus service available two blocks south of square as are two bicycle and pedestrian paths — Cheshire Rail and Keene Industrial Heritage trails
• Three park pathways allow pedestrian access from all sides of the circular-shaped square that is four-tenths of an acre in size

Commitment to Planning and Preservation

• Keene's 2008 Vision for the Future reinforces community's goal to maintain and expand city core and connect open spaces, including Central Square, through trail system
• Part of a locally designated historic district (2003) created to ensure that underlying historic character of buildings not lost in the process of renovation
• Two surrounding properties listed on National Register of Historic Places: United Church of Christ (1788, designated 1982), colloquially known as the "Church at the Head of the Square," and Colony Block (1870, designated 1983), a fine example of a Second Empire Victorian commercial building
• Local zoning encourages a mix of uses in buildings surrounding square, thus providing range of potential park users.
• Recent revitalization efforts include $2 million facelift to the 1824 Chamberlain Block building across from square; used by Sears until 1993, the 38,000-square-foot building features 12 units of efficiency and one-bedroom affordable housing, offices and shops
• Plan for tree replacement created in 1967 when Dutch elm disease felled all but two trees in square; tree canopy now monitored and maintained by Department of Public Works

Place in History

• Square has been central to Keene's development; third meetinghouse served as spiritual and governmental focal point
• First session of Inferior Court for Cheshire (1771) and Superior Court (1772) held on site in meetinghouse; rallying point for the muster following Lexington Alarm, first Revolutionary War battle (1775)
• Site of numerous political debates and canvassing. Practice of displaying flags with candidates' names stemmed from 1856 nomination of state's Franklin Pierce for U.S. President. Whigs erected flag pole over building across from square with name of Winfield Scott; Democrats responded in like; Whigs, not to be outdone, cut down 100-foot tree and raised 50-by-30 foot flag

Iconic Community Space

• Image of Central Square, with church steeple rising behind it, defines Keene and is used in marketing materials; United Church of Christ steeple is rumored to be the most frequently photographed steeple after that of Boston's Old North Church
• Amenities include bandstand, fountain, benches, trees, and seasonal plantings
• Civil War monument erected in 1871; two 32-pound cannons flank statue; dedicated by James A. Garfield, who later became 20th U.S. president
• Annual festivals promote year-round use including annual holiday tree lighting, Ice and Snow Festival, Keene Music Festival, and Arts in the Park; fall pumpkin festival has set Guinness Book world record for most carved pumpkins (28,952 in 2003)
• Bandstand integral to history and current uses including press conferences, festivals, readings, and community events. It's location in Central Square, surrounded by businesses, city hall, the court house, and county buildings, make it a popular stop for political campaign

Community Engagement and Support

• Tradition of resident and neighborhood involvement in Garden starts with community members forming the Queens Botanical Garden Society in 1946 to restore neglected exhibits and plantings from the 1939-1940 World's Fair
• Part of process developing 1999 master plan involved forming cultural advisory committees; results in garden having symbolic topiary and flora reflect borough's diverse residents and cultures
• Garden hosts traditions for many cultures; 75 percent of garden patrons speak languages other than English and attracts 300,000 visitors annually
• Broad public support for garden includes elected officials, Flushing Business Improvement District, Flushing Chinese Business Association; also partnerships with local entrepreneurs and philanthropic groups 

Long-Range Vision and Planning

• New facilities and site circulation study completed in 1992 as part of the garden's post-1964 World's Fair plan; a second master plan completed in 2001, puts forth $70 million in garden improvements; water is unifying theme
• Three community workshops held to gather resident input for 2001 master plan, which has two implementation phases and focuses on sustainability, environmental stewardship and cultural expression
• First phase of 2002 Master Plan completed in 2007 with grand opening of the Visitor & Administration Building; Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, other officials attend September 27 ribbon cutting 

Sustainable Redesign

• Garden uses its location in a valley and changes in terrain levels to manage rain and storm water runoff, channeling into reflecting pools, waterfalls and wetland
• State-of-the-art Visitor & Administration Building was awarded a Platinum LEED rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest rating available and the first facility in New York City to receive this certification; uses 80 percent less water than buildings comparable in size and function; President, Borough of Queens provided $11.3 million towards $24.1 million facility
• Visitor & Administration Building and other buildings are self-sustaining; constructed wetland filters and recharges graywater from sinks and showers for use with toilets; green roof purifies rainwater, which collects in pond and is used to irrigate garden plantings; also visitor center also has solar panels and geothermal climate control systems

Unique Sense of Place, Accessibility

• Garden has varying plant themes along designated trails, such as Fragrance Walk, Green Roof, Pinetum and the Bee, Herb, Woodland, and Wetland Gardens
• $3.9 million steel ornamental picket fence extends more than one mile (6,600 feet) along perimeter of garden's 39 acres; embedded with leaf finals and bronze medallions where each stone bears "Queens Botanical Garden"  
• Several New York City bus lines provide access to gardens; No. 7 subway train station 7 blocks north; bicycle racks; limited parking with spaces reserved for those who car-pool and have battery-powered vehicles

Long History

• After the town's founding, the marketplace functioned as an open air market until 1757 when first market house constructed; current building erected in 1889
• Present market house designed by English-born architect James H. Warner; renown for his experience in church architecture and construction of large roofs; designed projects in Harrisburg and Reading
• The 20,540 square-foot, brick market sits at the historic center of Lancaster, adjacent to Penn Square, the old City Hall, city's first skyscraper, and other historic buildings

Public Support for Central Market

• Market had competition for much of its history including seasonal curb markets (discontinued in 1927) and privately owned market houses (last one closed in 1985)
• Competition still remains from suburban supermarket chains; Central Market remains operational through city ownership and subsidies
• Friends of Central Market founded as nonprofit organization in 1997; volunteer effort by customers to raise awareness about market and ensure it continues to serve a public purpose; group has 30 volunteers and 200 members
• Friends group a key player in the "buy fresh, buy local" campaign designed to increase the market's visibility and customer base.

Unique merchandise, local customers  

• Majority of vendors sell locally grown or prepared foods and non-food items; regional food specialties include Pennsylvania Dutch sausage, scrapple, headcheese, chowchow,  bread, butter pickles
• Downtown location makes market easily accessible; thousands of residents live within one-half mile; six bus routes have stops within two blocks
• 3,000 customers patronize market each week; 82 percent of customers live or work in Lancaster; 33 percent of customers live in same zip code area as market
• Central Market is not only a place to buy local food and produce, but is also a place to meet friends and socialize; during warm months, outdoor furniture, canvas umbrellas, and hanging flower baskets strengthen Central Market setting as place to socialize
• Currently has 57 vendors who are socially and culturally diverse — Amish, Mennonite, Latino, African, Asian, German, Greek, and others

Planning and Improvements

• One of the first plans associated with the boardwalk was financial in nature, dealing with the replacement of the original boardwalk at a cost of over $220,000 in 1926. It took five months to replace wooden structure with concrete walkway.
• During late 1990s Army Corps of Engineers plunged a steel seawall 30 feet into the ground and placed a concrete boardwalk on top; designed to survive powerful storms, the structure prevented $80 million worth of damages from 2003 Hurricane Isabel 
• A concern since the 1940s, erosion reduced beach to 150 feet by early 1990s; restored to 300 feet by Army Corps of Engineers, which now has beach maintenance contract with City of Virginia Beach through 2050
• Several plans over the past two decades have been adopted, some appended to city's comprehensive plan, to guide physical and economic growth adjacent to the boardwalk; 2008 Resort Area Strategic Action Plan establishes eight priorities including a convention center hotel and new entertainment facility at former site of Virginia Beach Civic Center

Accessibility

• At 28 feet, boardwalk is wide enough to handle both pedestrians and bicyclists; landscaped median with native plants separates these two users. The bike path is part of a larger planned bicycle route through the city.  Bikes and two- or four-peddler surreys can be rented; joggers, skateboarders and rollerbladers also frequent users  
• Trolley (Virginia Beach Wave) operates along three routes near boardwalk from May through September
• City of Virginia Beach considering light rail extension from Norfolk to the oceanfront; 2008 Resort Area Strategic Action Plan recommends that city conduct environmental impact study to expedite process
• Handicapped accessible from both nearby Atlantic Avenue and beachfront; wheelchair accessible ramps, from the boardwalk to the beach, occur at every block; several accessible restrooms also located along the boardwalk
• Some 4,000 public parking spaces along the beach in both lots and garages; efforts undertaken to reduce the number of vehicles through use of  traffic calming along Atlantic Avenue

Amenities

• $100 million facelift during 1990s brought a pedestrian scale to the boardwalk's 10 acres of public space; previous cul-de sacs transformed into pocket parks; tall, cobra-head street lights replaced with more compact, fluted  fixtures; colorful pavers replaced brushed concrete; hundreds of strategically-placed teak benches added
• Public art adorns boardwalk and adjacent parks including 34-foot tall, bronze King Neptune; six larger-than-life bronze sculptures with action-orient presentations represent three historic eras in naval aviation
• Norwegian Lady statue commemorates lives lost and saved in a tragic shipwreck; twin of statue stands in Moss, Norway, a sister city to Virginia Beach and wrecked sailing vessel's home
• Built in 1950, 1,000-foot wooden Virginia Beach Fishing Pier popular among fisherman and dolphin-watching tourists; area famous for summer and fall runs of spot, croaker, pompano, bluefish, flounder; small amusement park across from pier
• Six outdoor stages, between 7th and 31st Streets, busy all summer; host blues bands, magic shows, outdoor movies, and Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra
• Boardwalk complemented by a series of public spaces, including three public parks and 12 connector parks; two playgrounds recently added to adjacent public beach
• Boardwalk is flanked by restaurants, many offering al fresco dining