Thanksgiving Day welcomes home many Albert Lea natives who live elsewhere. They often drive around and judge the town.

Sometimes they find problems &8212; such as the sad state of the former Albert Lea Golf Club &8212; and they don&8217;t notice the progress. Albert Lea is not the same city it was in 2000. It has turned a corner toward a more positive view of its beauty, its quality of life and its future capabilities. It is much easier to say leaders now appreciate what a special place Albert Lea truly is. Putting it in metaphorical terms, the boulder of progress is large and has just begun to roll.

We would like to help visitors see the good stuff. This list isn&8217;t complete. It is but a sampling, and it is only visually oriented. It neglects progress that is not visible, such as the recent voter-approved school operating levy.

Here are six items to see on your drive:

– The bike trail on the north shore of Fountain Lake. It runs from Brookside Park to Pioneer Park. The lighted trail is a great addition to the Blazing Star Trail and the walkway on the south shore of Fountain Lake. Together, they show Albert Lea cares about the health of its residents. Look for more progress on trails in the future.

– The new industrial park on South Margaretha Avenue.

People forget to drive out there when looking at the city. On the east side of Margaretha is the familiar Jobs Industrial Park. The new park is on the west side of the street. Albert Lea has filled up so much of its industrial park space that a new industrial park was needed. Other communities wish they had that problem.

– The new South Margaretha Avenue. The city and county have updated this street to handle heavy traffic and accommodate the new park. (Did you know part of this street also is Freeborn County Road 48? That&8217;s why the county is involved.)

– Shoreline rehabilitation at City Beach and at Katherine Island. The areas look barren now, but once the aquatic vegetation grows, the two locations will look great. Plus, crews are installing a new footbridge to Katherine Island. There are other shoreline projects, such as Wedge Creek, but the City Beach and Katherine Island are the most visible.

– Streetlamps and banners on East Main Street. The lights welcome motorists from Interstate 35&8217;s exits 11 and 12. Albert Lea has a loyal following among the motoring public and the lights guide them if they decide to come farther into the city.

– The Freeborn National Bank building. Go downtown and look at 201 S. Broadway Ave. Look at it closer than you normally would. The city has improved the quality of this beautiful building &8212; replacing windows, renovating the exterior, strengthening the structure, removing asbestos. Similar improvements were made to the Jacobson Building next door. The buildings are gems for any developer.