Notice the European white willow trees of Salem Willows, an oceanfront park in Salem, Massachusetts. These willows were planted here in 1801 to form a shaded walk for patients convalescing at a nearby smallpox hospital. The area became a public park in 1858 and grew into a summer destination for residents of Boston's North Shore, many of whom escaped the heat of the city on the newly popular streetcars. In the summer of 1877 the Naumkeag Street Railway Company began construction on an amusement park here after extending its horsecar system to the park, and on June 10, 1880 the park opened with many amusement park additions. By 1911 electric streetcar service had been increased to include two tracks from Derby Street along Fort Ave. to the end of the line at what is now the parking lot at the arcade.
Today the park covers over 35 acres and includes beaches, a pier, a yacht club, and a boardwalk with an arcade as well as take-out restaurants. You'll also find gazebos, a small stage, tennis and basketball courts, and an amusement park called Kiddieland with a carousel that survives to this day. Notice the willows, the pier, and the arcade lining this oceanfront park.