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<br /> streets presented a major design two things would happen,"Cole says. Old Dominion University in nearby 1
<br /> opportunity. "First, people would remember Norfolk. Overall resort improvements
<br /> "Planners and residents working on which park they used to enter the are noticeable as well.
<br /> the project decided that it was impor- beach, and,second, their whole expe-
<br /> • rant not to just get people to the rience at the beach would become CAPITALIZING ON HERITAGE
<br /> beach and back but to do it in a pleas- more memorable." A park can also reflect a communi
<br /> ing and memorable way,"says Project The boardwalk and the parks were ty's artistic heritage. Loveland, Colo.,
<br /> Manager Walt Cole. constructed between 1988 and 1995, a city of about 40,000 people set
<br /> The stub streets are designed as and tourist visits are increasing steadi- against the foothills of the Rocky
<br /> pedestrian spaces through which peo- ly, according to annual studies per- Mountains, is home to two of the
<br /> ple can easily and safely make their formed between 1990 and 1995 by nation's largest bronze sculpture
<br /> way to and from the beach. The foundries. The city has gained recog-
<br /> streets became pocket parks, When Virginia Beach tounsmr--.,, nition among artists during the past
<br /> each designed around a dif- began to decline during the late". N. decade, and each year Loveland hosts
<br /> ferent theme. '70s park planners used the design r two major sculpture exhibits that draw
<br /> s. 4. opportunity to create pocket pariks� to
<br /> Some provide edu- � s�R -. �,., artists, residents and visitors from
<br /> ,� s each designed around the-36 stub-F=07:5,1-5,47-` ;.
<br /> cational informa- �.,3 , _ ,-,.r :,x around the world.
<br /> 44,1401:14.4: -,.,,,..k:,, streets used for:beach,access 'W:
<br /> tion about the „�, `'--- E`-jzt '� r, ,tn °: ' During the middle 1980s, the city
<br /> ocean ecosystem `' _ _ ' ' embarked upon a plan to revamp
<br /> t'� --.>-r-�; F
<br /> or local history, - municipal facilities. In the downtown
<br /> while others are - .-:1 -7"-1..:-.-1-7-, , ,�J t .F.:;' area, a civic center was designed to
<br /> r
<br /> designed simply - � .j - < - , \-a" . include City Hall, the library and a
<br /> to entertain with i i—_^_._, ii -5r; t' •:;t combined recreation and senior citi-
<br /> themes like beach ti ',"'�"'r'` 4 ;. l• .� zens' center. A stone schoolhouse,
<br /> balls, bicycles, sand ` '=: ' a built early in the century and later
<br /> castles and sea shells. converted to city offices, serves as the
<br /> "With each park having a ---, — centerpiece.
<br /> separate identity within a _ = Gary Havener, Loveland's parks
<br /> cohesive overall theme, we knew ` and recreation director, says residents
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