(Norwich, CT) – Please join us as we celebrate the groundbreaking of the Uncas Leap Heritage Park on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 11:00am – 12:00pm. Construction on the site began on August 1, 2023, and the park will be completed in Summer 2024. Planning for this project has been in the works since 2010 thanks to many dedicated individuals and organizations and now Federal, State and Municipal funding have made the project a reality. Over $2 million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds will create a public space for residents and visitors to learn about the site's rich history, enjoy the natural beauty of the space, and have a small venue for performing arts in the proposed story circle. Please wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable shoes as this is an active construction site.
 
There is an offsite parking lot that can hold roughly 9 vehicles and there is additional parking available at the Norwich Free Academy Sachem Campus located at 90 Sachem St, Norwich, CT 06360 and at Church and Allen Funeral Home located at 136 Sachem St, Norwich, CT 06360. We have permission to use both lots for this event. We encourage those who are able to carpool to please do so to limit the number of cars in the small offsite lot.

Event Details:
Thursday August 10, 2023, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Uncas Leap 196-200 Yantic Street Norwich, CT 06360

About the Uncas Leap Heritage Park
Acquired by the City of Norwich in 2010, the area has historical significance to the community and has remained a sacred part of Mohegan Tribe history since 1643. The 1.2-acre landmark along the Yantic River is the site of the culmination of the Battle of Great Plains between the Mohegan and Narragansett Tribes. The Uncas Leap Steering Committee is a collaboration of representatives from the City of Norwich (Mayor’s Office and including city departments Planning and Community Development, Norwich Community Development Corp., Public Works, and Engineering), members of the Mohegan Tribal Nation, the Norwich Historical Society, and private citizens /area residents. The Committee’s goal is to turn the Uncas Leap Heritage Area into a park for visitors and residents to enjoy. The Committee meets regularly to discuss project updates. In 2022, the City of Norwich decided to use American Rescue Plan funds to complete the park. SLR (formerly Milone & MacBroom) designed engineered drawings. Weise Construction Inc. was chosen as the contractor. Construction will begin in Summer 2023 and the project will be completed Summer 2024.