After major renovations the South Broad Street Park reopened to the public this week after a year of planning and construction work, thanks to the Norwich Cemetery Association and other community groups. They worked together on the project at no cost to the taxpayer and created a welcoming vision for travelers entering the City of Norwich. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH - After a year of planning and fundraising and a summer and fall of construction work the South Broad Street Park is again open to the public.

While the park is privately owned by the Norwich Cemetery Association it has been generously made available to the public for almost a century by an agreement with the City of Norwich.

The renovated park includes a new, larger pavilion and two wide walking paths that have extensions providing sitting areas with creek views.

Access to the park has been improved with a relocated and expanded parking lot and security features include a 360° view camera tied to the police department and a blue light station. Additional features include new benches, landscaping improvements and decorative fencing. Also included is a kinetic sculpture designed by California artist Jeffrey Laudenslager who crafted it for its central location in the park.

Of special significance is this project was entirely underwritten by generous donations from the Fred and Ramona Mirabito Foundation, the Higley Foundation, Greater Norwich Foundation, R. C. Smith Foundation, Follett Foundation and Norwich Building Tomorrow Foundation. There were no taxpayer dollars used.

The project sponsors would like to express their deepest appreciation to these local foundations for their vision, generosity and commitment to our community.

A project of this magnitude takes a team to implement and special thanks need to be extended to those involved without whom it would not have been successful.

The Norwich Cemetery Association should be credited for embracing this community improvement opportunity and for making the land available to the public.

LaBella Engineering was instrumental in providing guidance and design services and organizers are particularly grateful for the many extra hours of volunteer time Mike Flanagan devoted to construction management.

Burrell’s Excavating was the lead contractor and a great partner in executing the work and as foreman Adam Monroe took both a professional and personal interest in ensuring that everyone did their job well.

Organizers would also like to extend their appreciation to the City of Norwich for their cooperation and for their ongoing maintenance of the park. They are also grateful to the neighboring property owners for their understanding and support during construction.

- Information from the project's planning committee