NORWICH – Recently the City of Norwich was awarded a grant through Design Connect Cornell, College of Architecture Art and Planning to aid in the Norwich Neighborhood Playground Rejuvenation Project.

The grant will provide the city with a Cornell Design and Planning intern that has a background in parks design to work with the city’s Park Commission to develop a modern playground and park design.

When the City of Norwich Grant Coordinator Lorraine Keckeisen learned about the grant, she reached out to SUNY Morrisville Chair for the Human Development and Society Division of the school, Julianne Burton, to put to see if she also had interns who could participate in the park design project.

Interns will work with the city and Norwich schools to determine what type of playground equipment will best address the needs of the community.

“The park is going to be designed with a seamless transition for children with special needs so that we create a park that's inviting to all,” said Keckeisen, “SUNY Morrisville will help us work as a team with local residents, businesses, and non-profits agencies to get their input and reflect local needs by either a focus group or survey.”