Westerly's heart is its library and the adjacent Wilcox Park, some of the finest examples of their type in New England. The library, a memorial to Civil War volunteers, came first, constructed of yellow brick and Westerly red granite in 1894. From the beginning it functioned as both book loaner and community center, with a bowling alley and gymnasium; an art gallery was added in 1902 and a children's room and expanded gallery in 1928.

Through subsequent additions and renovations, the library has maintained its charm. Its collection of approximately 240,000 volumes — which includes books on CD and DVDs — makes it a regional resource. Although you can no longer bowl a string or work on your biceps there, the library continues to serve the community with its Coy Cafe, Hoxie Gallery, maker space and computer stations.

After browsing the stacks, spend some time in Wilcox Park, a Westerly gem since 1898. Designed by a former associate of Frederick Law Olmsted, Warren H. Manning, the expanse reminds one of Central Park in miniature. There's the quarry-fed pond filled with koi fish; the arboretum of native trees; the sloping paths and small bridges. Children especially enjoy the bronze statue of Margaret Wise Brown's “The Runaway Bunny,” installed in 1998 (Brown's papers and manuscripts are in the library's collection). You'll also find dog walkers, lovers and parents with strollers among those wandering the park's paths.

Its scenic features and location make the park an important center of community events, including a garden market fair, the Virtu art festival and the Summer Pops concert. This year a series of theaters will set up shop for open-air productions, including Stage Door Theater's original comedy, “Lois Has Something to Tell Albert” (July 7-9) and Colonial Theater's “Waiting for Godot” (Aug. 3-13). Look for the Friends of Westerly Library's Pop-up Book Sale on Thursdays outside the library. For more information, visit www.westerlylibrary.org.