Reviews & Comments
De Pere, WI
Wonderful Gem! -
6/15/2007I almost hate to write this, because DePere is such a sweet little place and I don't want it to change. I love this community. Very active citizens. Everybody's out walking or biking as soon as the weather permits (meaning not freezing below zero or snowy). Sidewalks help with that. Excellent schools and the community is always accepting of the need to improve or build new schools. There is some divison between East and West Depere (Fox River divides town), the east side is larger and newer and the west side is more homey and quaint. St Norbert's College (on the west side) is an outstanding liberal arts college, with a beautiful campus that borders on the river. Both sides of the town boast cute and interesting little shops on Main Streets. This town can't be beat!
Green Bay, WI
Living in Green Bay....the good, the bad and the u -
6/15/2007Well, where do I start? Green Bay is not perfect. The other person was right, the people are very territorial. Generations have lived here forever. It seems very few people leave. It can be very hard to meet and establish long-term friendships. However, a lot of new people are moving in. This predominately blue-collar town is transitioning. More educated people are moving into this area and that is definately changing the landscape. The weather can be awful; however spending one year in the desert southwest...I was itching for some variety and quite frankly a break from the sun. The "pollution problem", well folks, it does exist here but in MUCH less numbers than other places such as Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, (I can keep going). Green Bay is different in the aspect that they are working hard to rectify past generations ignorance/apathy toward the environment. The Fox River is going thru a major clean-up and will most likely be PCB free in the next decade. Also, the biking trails are outstanding here! Out of EVERY place I have ever lived including Madison, WI (dubbed bike capitol of the U.S.), Green Bay puts them all to shame. There are several major bike paths that extend for MILES where one doesn't have to battle traffic...ever. It is amazing!
I have lived in Green Bay for a total of almost 11 years (wow, that number shocked me) and although when I left the first time I swore I would never be back...I am happy to be where I am now. The first time I lived in Green Bay from 1992-1996, I felt the area was very provential and stifling. I was young and ready to see more of the world. Well, I saw more and I realized that maybe Green Bay wasn't so terrible. When my husband got a great job offer here, I really felt at odds with coming back. It is not quite my dream place, but truly don't know if any place like that exists. We have a beautiful home, in a great neighborhood, some good friendships and easy access to some beautiful nature. My children attend a WONDERFUL school and the love where they live. The airport is large enough to get us out of here quickly and cities like Minneapolis and Chicago are an easy day drive.
So in short, it is a good place to live. I have lived in other parts of the country/world and I guess I have discovered with maturity that every place has some citizens begging to get out (usually the young) and some citizens begging to get in (mostly the older and wiser). It is what you make