NORWICH – The city’s Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with Friends of the Park, has announced plans to move forward with the East and West Park renovations, originally proposed in 2002 and approved in July of 2009.

Renovations, initially slated to begin in early May, were held up “due to issues involving state agency oversight of the project which led to unforeseen delays,” according to Friends of the Park member Eric Larsen.

“We traveled to Albany to meet with state officials to resolve some outstanding issues and at this time we’re prepared to move forward,” he added.

BID Executive Director Pegi LoPresti cited Assemblyman Cliff Crouch as being “instrumental in setting up the meeting, and advocating on our behalf, in order to resolve issues with the state Department of Labor.”

“Assemblyman Crouch was extremely helpful in moving our project forward at this time,” said Lopresti.

Formed in 2004, Friends of the Park spent two years, between 2004 and 2006, meeting with a variety of community organizations, gathering input and feedback from over 35 groups, which LoPresti said “led to several revisions through the years.”

Several more years were spent in an attempt to secure funding and grant money for the estimated $1 million project, according to LoPresti, who wished to thank the City of Norwich and city officials, local foundations, businesses, individuals and the community at large for supporting the Friends of the Park campaign, which raised approximately $425,000 toward the renovations.