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We have so much to be grateful for here

April 1, 2008 12:15 am

FREDERICKSBURG: What a wonderful place to be! I can't imagine another city anywhere in the U.S. that has experienced such accomplishments. Fredericksburg is a place of incredible balance between old and new, preservation and development, and last but not least, its people.

We have come a long way from "Thursdays and Tuesdays." You know, it's Thursday, here's your paycheck but don't cash it 'til Tuesday.

Fredericksburg is happening! To wit:

Preservation of 4,000-plus acres, a 30-mile greenway along the Rappahannock River. Special thanks go to the current City Council and staff.

A permanent home for the Friends of the Rappahannock, a now nationally known and recognized river protection group. Special thanks go to Doug Stewart.

The Silver Cos., with the guidance of Friends of the Rappahannock, put close to 500 acres into a very restrictive and protective conservation easement that buffers the Rappahannock River and separates Celebrate Virginia North and South. Special thanks go to Jud Honaker.

A great newspaper! The Free Lance-Star has wonderful people from top to bottom, and its success and growth make Fredericksburg a much better place.

New SPCA facilities. The people who have supported all aspects of the SPCA should be very proud.

The new transit facility is awesome!

Hospitals are springing up everywhere, plus there's the new Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic.

Planned Wegmans grocery.

The new high school and the new upper elementary school.

University of Mary Washington's continued growth and success. With UMW's acquisition of the Park & Shop center, what a wonderful place it will be for the city, college staff, college students, their parents, and all visitors.

Continued preservation of special places and battlefields. Thanks to the Johnny Mitchells of the world.

A Courtyard by Marriott hotel planned for downtown, an award-winning parking garage, and the final settlement of Maury School's revitalization.

A new hiking, jogging, walking trail along the Rappahannock--goal: 40-plus miles. Thanks go to Troop 165, the city, and Friends of the Rappahannock.

The Rappahannock River, Friends of the Rappahannock, the city of Fredericksburg, all surrounding counties, bikers, canoeists, birdwatchers, fishermen, hunters, joggers, kayakers--all are lucky to have Fredericksburg's watershed property manager, Lee Sillitoe. Thanks to all who helped to make this position a reality. Lee Sillitoe has incredible energy, an awesome background, and an insatiable desire to do the job well.

The American Canoe Association chose Fredericksburg as the home of its permanent national headquarters. Special thanks go to Jud Honaker, Gene Bailey, Kevin Gullette, Jeff Roundtree, and Rick Hurley, who quietly worked their magic to make this happen.

The Dixon Park pool and athletic fields.

A brand new river. Thanks go to Sen. John Warner, the city, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Friends of the Rappahannock for the removal of the two dams on the Rappahannock. Their removal opened up a drainage area of 1,709,759 acres. These two dams were the only blockages on the 184-mile length of the Rappahannock. More than nine different species of fish and eel are now free to spawn upriver. The new mile-long stretch of white water is awesome.

Planned waterfront development in Fredericksburg, including a river walk with great food and music; UMW's new state-of-the-art boathouse for student crew teams, rowing teams, and canoe and kayak teams; and the ACA National Canoe and Kayak Museum, full of vintage, hand-built, wooden canoes and kayaks, many of which were used in past Olympics.

There will be events of all kinds celebrating the river, Fredericksburg's rich and natural history, its arts, and its people.

Some of the above has already happened, some of it is still in the works, and some are dreams and visions, but they will come true with everyone chipping in.

Look at what's happened around Fredericksburg in recent times, thanks to past and current city staff, mayors, councils, and volunteers. Most of us have no idea how much time, work, planning, and caring each of these council members and city staff put into making the right decisions.

The Kalahari project is no different. As we all know, things are tight right now. The timing seems perfect for Kalahari. It will jump-start that part of Fredericksburg set aside for tourist destinations. Over the next five to 10 years, people will be spending more time with their families and looking for vacations that are not so far away. They'll be spending more money closer to home. Fredericksburg, here we come!

Bill Micks of Fredericksburg is co-owner of the Virginia Outdoor Center.