Region: Norwich seeks vote for Uncas Leap as ‘Great Place in America’
The area is one of five finalist sites
Norwich — City officials are urging people to cast a vote this week to name the historic Uncas Leap Heritage Area as a top “Great Places in America” in the People’s Choice awards hosted by the American Planning Association.
The Uncas Leap area is one of five finalists nationwide for the designation, and online voting will run through Friday, Nov. 2. Unlike the Nov. 6 election, people can vote as many times as they wish in the People’s Choice ballot, at https://www.planning.org/ greatplaces/peopleschoice.
Uncas Leap is competing with the Riverwalk in Tampa, Fla., Katy Trail in Missouri, the Detroit Riverfront and the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. for the top People’s Choice award. The winner will be announced Nov. 7.
City Planner Deanna Rhodes said she nominated the Uncas Leap area at 196-200 Yantic St. for the award after considering several Norwich contenders. The history of the area dating to the pre-European Native American period, its popularity with families and visitors taking walks and the current plan to upgrade the area into a city attraction combined to bring this site to the top of Rhodes’ list.
The Uncas Leap site is the only finalist in the Northeast. The Connecticut Tourism Bureau, the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce and the Norwich Community Development Corp. have been promoting the nomination and urging people to vote by the Friday deadline, Rhodes said.
“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 nomination states. “The city, now in control of both of the Yantic Falls gorge and the Uncas Leap landmark, and a grassroots group, succeeded in securing state funding to create a plan for developing the heritage area in 2011, and in 2015 secured additional funding to restore the granite mill ruins. The passive recreational site boasts a 19th-century mill ruin, a breathtaking waterfall, and an incredible gorge that plays a major role in the story of the community and tribal nation.”
The plans call for creating a parking area at 232 Yantic St. near the falls, with the main park center just below the falls in the parking area for the former Artform mill building. The city took possession of the mill for back taxes and tore down one decaying structure. A second early 19th-century granite building will be partially demolished — the roof and sagging upper walls to be removed — to create an open-air ruin for a walking trail to run through, with interpretive signs.
Rhodes said the state Historic Preservation Office has approved the partial demolition plan.
The city is using a $500,000 federal Environmental Protection Agency grant to perform environmental assessments of the area and to remove an underground storage tank at the former mill prior to park construction.
Mayor Peter Nystrom said he was excited that the Uncas Leap area made the finalist list and said the plan to enhance the area as a tourist attraction “is moving forward.”