<P> Duluth has numerous parks, including six parks on Lake Superior: Brighton Beach Park, Leif Erickson Park, Canal Park on Park Point, the Lakewalk (connecting Canal Park and Leif Erickson Park via the lakeshore), Lafayette Park on Park Point, and Park Point Recreation Area near the end of Park Point, where a sand beach invites swimming in the lake . Park Point Pine Forest, located at the tip of Park Point, is popular for bird watching in the spring and fall when numerous shore birds use the area as a resting point during their migration . </P> <P> Duluth's other parks include Lester Park, Congdon Park, Hartley Park, Chester Park, the Rose Garden (next to Leif Erickson Park), Bayfront Festival Park, Cascade Park, Enger Park, Lincoln Park, Brewer Park, Fairmount Park, Indian Point Park, Magney--Snively Park, and Fond du Lac Park, as well as some small neighborhood parks and athletic fields . Lester Park, Congdon Park, Hartley Park, and Chester Park have trail systems, and three of these parks--all except Hartley--also have waterfalls, as does Lincoln Park . Hartley Park also has a nature center . Lester Park and Enger Park have public golf courses . Fairmount Park has the Lake Superior Zoo . </P> <P> For many years the Viking ship that was built in Norway by local boat builders to replicate the type of ship sailed by Leif Erikson who discovered North America around 997 A.D. was on display in the Leif Erickson park . The vessel is 42 feet long, has a 12 feet 9 inches beam and draws 4 feet of water . The Dragon's Head and Tail are considered by architects to be masterpieces . The ship was invited to Duluth by Norwegian - American immigrant and businessman H.H. Borgen, whose descendants have maintained the ship as a family symbol, and who have contributed regularly to restoration efforts . When the crew landed in Duluth on June 23, 1927, they had traveled a distance of 6,700 miles, the greatest distance for a ship of its size in modern history . Hundreds of people lined the dock to greet the ship as it sailed into the Duluth harbor . </P> <P> Duluthian Emil Olson purchased the ship soon after the voyage, and donated the Leif Erikson to the City of Duluth . The ship was placed on display in Duluth's Lake Park, which was later named Leif Erikson Park . </P>

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