New Bern's Tricentennial in 2010

We had a speaker from the Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp. at our company meeting yesterday, who gave us an exciting update of the planning and happenings to celebrate New Bern's 300th Birthday in 2010!

The following are among those under consideration:

• A "Riverwalk" will be developed along the Neuse and Trent River waterfronts, from Queens Point to Lawson Creek.


• Working with DOT, the foundation is proposing a Maritime Park near Lawson Creek on Jack Island.


• A proposal is being considered to restore the Herbert C. Browner ferry, and offer ferry rides along the New Bern waterfront.


• A proposal to restore the "Blue Angel" plane, which is currently on display across from Grover C. Fields Jr. High School, and relocate the restored plane to the new Maritime Park at Lawson Creek.

New Bern's Seth Thomas Clock Tower is a landmark in the downtown historic district. Funds were approved several years ago, to converted it to electric power to keep it running on current time. An effort is underway to restore the "endangered 1920" parts mechanism, and place it on display as a museum piece.

27 years of revitalization efforts are seeing a promising future in New Bern's downtown waterfront.