Recreation comes first in the first State.

Dover, the capital city of the first state admitted to the union, is also Delaware's recreation leader. The stated goal of the Dover Parks and Recreation Department is "to provide the Dover community with a broad, varied and interesting selection of recreational programs and activities," and the department unquestionably delivers the goods to this clean, low-crime city of 32,000.

Perhaps Dover's central feature is its 26 parks, many of which are equipped with play areas and structures, walking and jogging paths, and ample flora, including flowers of many varieties and ornamental trees.

On the east side of town, Dover Park consists of 28 meticulously landscaped acres that are home to all array of fields and courts; even shuffleboard and horseshoe aficionados have a place to play. The park's recreation center includes a room that holds 60 people and offers private reservations. Schutte Park, one of Dover's newest, is popular with the sports-oriented crowd, and is home to four lighted softball fields as well as field hockey and soccer fields. It also hosts numerous camps and tournaments throughout the year: The 182-acre Silver Lake Recreation Area offers boating by permit, along with swimming, fishing, an exercise court, volleyball courts and loads of trails. Memorial Park/Mirror Lake is another fishing hot spot and a popular location for weddings.

Sports are always afoot here. Dover's adult summer and fall softball leagues are eminently popular. Within the city are both a municipal golf course (Dover Golf Center) and a private facility (Maple Dale Country Club). Race fans of all stripes receive a special treat. Dover Downs, which operates November through April, hosts some of the top harness-racing action in the nation, as does nearly Harrington Raceway, while Dover International Speedway features NASCAR, Winston Cup, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck racing events.

Perambulists and cyclists have a place to go in the Downstate Delaware Striders and Riders, a club that includes runners and cyclists of all abilities, ranging from those who pursue running and cycling purely for enjoyment to those athletes who compete seriously in area rides, road races, duathlons and triathlons. The club sponsors the Great Wyoming Buffalo Stampede 5K/10K Run, the largest event of its kind in southern Delaware, provides weekly training rides for all levels and abilities, and sponsors noncompetitive runs for all levels and abilities every Saturday morning. Importantly, the club supports both regional and national charities, and a portion of the Buffalo Stampede proceeds are donated to a local charity.

One of Dover's more popular special events is the Amish Country Bike Tour, which is held every September Hosted by the Diamond State Bicycle Club, the event includes 25-, 50- and 100-mile rides on flat country routes.

The younger set receives ample attention in Dover, with a variety of competitive leagues and instructional programs offered in basketball, softball, baseball, soccer and more. In August, the NFL's Punt, Pass and Kick Competition, offered free of charge to boys and girls aged 8 to 15, comes to town. Delaware Technical and Community College offers a variety of courses, including the Hornet Softball Camp for girls in grades 3 through 12, the State Baseball Camp for kids 7 through 15, and the Nike Girls Lacrosse Camps. Dover is also home to the Dover Skating Center and the KOA Martial Arts Academy. There's also the usual hearty array of Little League programs in both baseball and softball.

College sports fans have the Hornets of Delaware State University to root for; the school is right in town, making for easy spectating and adding to the city's overall athletic flavor. DSU offers 18 varsity sports, and the university recently opened its Sports, Health and Wellness Complex, which serves not only DSU's athletes and students in both sporting and academic capacities but colleges and high schools across the state, and is accessible to the community on many levels.

Delaware as a state has long proven that small places can mean great things. With its intense dedication to sports and leisure, its modestly sized capital city proves the same thing.