"To be Free - To Walk the good American earth as equal citizens, To live without fear, to enjoy the fruits of our toil, to give our children every opportunity in life - That dream which we have held so long in our hearts is today the destiny that we hold in our hands." Paul Robeson, Here I Stand, 1958.

A standing-room only crowd of local dignitaries and speakers convened on the corner of Pacific Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on Wednesday, November 14, 2001, to dedicate the Civil Rights Garden at Carnegie Library. The monument, which stands as a lasting reminder of the lifelong struggle for racial equality in America, is situated across the street from the Atlantic City Post Office and behind the 97-year-old library between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Mount Vernon Avenue.

The garden features 11 black granite columns, which were quarried in Africa, complete with quotes and readings from influential leaders of the civilrights movement, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; Harriet Tubman; and many others. The twisting and winding brick path enables visitors to stroll through the garden. The focal point of the garden is the enormous bronze bell. The bell is positioned over a reflecting pool that features cascading water and is surrounded by the writings of Dr. King. A giant, upraised bronze hand symbolizes the objective of enabling all Americans to participate in the electoral process. This project became a reality thanks in part to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Vision 2000 Community Development Corporation, Fellowship of Churches, and the NAACP.

The Atlantic City Special Improvement District launched its redesigned Web site, www.acsid.com, on Tuesday, October 9, 2001. Internet browsers can now use this site to access restaurants throughout the city with the new Restaurant Guide, locate their favorite stores with the new Business Directory and stay up-to-date with upcoming events with the new Events Calendar. Soundwaves, the Special Improvement District's quarterly newsletter, is now available at your fingertips, while the Links section enables visitors to immediately jump to several local organization's Web sites. Other sections featured on this site include: Personnel, an in-depth look at the office administration staff; Divisions, an in-depth look at division managers and each department's background; Projects, a division by division list of completed and current projects; and Directions, complete driving directions from all major roadways.