Washington’s waterfront has its new dockmaster’s station, which houses facilities for boaters and pubic restrooms.

The downtown waterfront also has Festival Park, just a couple of years old.

At the extreme eastern end of Washington’s waterfront sits Havens Gardens. It’s in line for some improvements. Although perhaps not as visible as the Stewart Parkway promenade, city docks and Festival Park are to tourists, Havens Gardens draws plenty of attention from locals. Havens Gardens is one of the city’s most-used parks, thanks to its fishing pier, picnic shelters and boat ramps.

Last month, the City Council unanimously adopted the updated Havens Gardens master plan prepared by Susan Suggs.

Suggs’ modified plan calls for moving the Havens Gardens parking lot south of N.C. Highway 32 westward to provide more open area at the east end of the park. She also recommends adding a loop walking trail west of the parking lot. Other suggestions include building a shelter on the west end of Havens Gardens so it overlooks the Pamlico River, provide a fenced-in play area for small children and adding facilities for a splash park, bocce and beach volleyball. The plan also calls for building a second pier at the park, a pedestrian pier that would join the existing fishing pier at the park.

Suggs told the council that Havens Gardens needs major repair and/or replacement projects because it is “loved to death” by the people who use the park. There’s no doubt the park is a favorite recreation area for area residents and tourists. For years, area parents have taken their children there to play. The park’s pier and bulkheads are favorite areas from which to fish.

So, it’s heartening to see the city applying for grant funding this year and next year to help pay for park improvements. Just a few years ago, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission improved the adjacent boat ramps. It also appears there’s new life concerning a plan to build a walkway along the west bank of Runyon Creek and under the bridge at Havens Gardens that connects Washington and Washington Park. The walkway, which would have observations areas, would connect parts of Havens Gardens that are separated by the highway, allowing pedestrians to move between those areas without crossing the highway. The walkway would also connect boat ramps north of the highway to sections of Havens Gardens south of the highway.

Although perhaps overdue, it looks like Havens Gardens will be getting the changes it’s due.

With those changes, look for the park to be even more “loved to death.”