Park highlights visitors center that should have been

The dedication Monday of the Paul V. Berry Hickory Grove Park drew a substantial crowd, as was appropriate. The park, which was more than five years in the making, is an amazingly peaceful and appealing setting on the site of the old Coon School annex. The former Coon School, a magnificent 1920s-style high school edifice, is now the Golden Leaf Apartments.

Standing on the park grounds, where four Vollis Simpson whirligigs were spinning in the breeze, my eyes were drawn to the brick bungalow on Broad Street, just a short stroll away. The building had been considered once as a visitors center, but that idea was unceremoniously abandoned. The new visitors center is in a sterile, unappealing strip mall storefront set back off U.S. 264 at the Interstate 95 interchange.

It was obvious during the dedication ceremony Monday that the Broad Street bungalow would have been the perfect site for a visitors center. Visitors arriving there could stroll down to the new Hickory Grove Park, where the city of Wilson had its humble beginnings. They could admire the Golden Leaf Apartments. They could walk across the street to the beautifully renovated Wilson County Public Library and its front lawn, which is a public park. The Edna Boykin Cultural Center, BB&T's twin towers, Imagination Station, downtown restaurants and other attractions are within walkable distances. I could easily imagine visitors to Wilson standing on the porches of the bungalow and looking down toward the park framed by the Golden Leaf Apartments and turning to look at the library's whirligig across the street and at the soaring BB&T towers. It would make quite an impression.

Meanwhile, out by the interstate, visitors to the new visitors center can stand out front and admire convenience stores, national chain fast-food joints, nondescript motels and passing cars. Oh, and a sign that says "Wilson, 8 miles." What a calling card Wilson has!