Snake Alley and Mosquito Park
Burlington has many hills. A long time ago the people of Burlington wanted a shortcut down part of North Hill. They made this very crooked street going down that part of the hill. The bricks on the street were set on edge to make more traction for the horses going up and down it. Now cars go down it.
Some people live along Snake Alley and use the street to get to their driveways. Snake Alley is in the historic district of Burlington. This part of town has many grand old houses.
Every Memorial Day in May there is a bicycle race up Snake Alley. Bikers from all over come to town for that race. The bikers have to go up the Alley and around a course laid out around Burlington many times to finish the race.
Mosquito Park is a small park that overlooks the Mississippi River. If you look downstream, you can see the automobile bridge over the river. If you look upstream, you can see many small islands in the middle of the river.
Next to several of these islands rectangular shaped boats, called barges, are moored. These barges carry coal and grain up and down the Mississippi. If the barge is riding low in the water, you know it is full. If the barge is floating high in the water, it is probably empty.
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