TAMPA RIVERWALK BESTS NORWICH’S UNCAS LEAP IN NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CHOICE CONTEST

The Riverwalk in Tampa, Fla., was named the winner Wednesday in the American Planning Association’s “Great Place in America” People’s Choice Award, besting four other finalists, including the historic Uncas Leap area in Norwich.

The winner was named after an online contest that ended Friday. Although the APA’s website doesn’t rank the finalist sites — the others being Katy Trail in Missouri, the Detroit Riverfront and the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. — for the award, Norwich City Planner Deanna Rhodes said Uncas Leap placing third among the five finalists is “still awesome,” she said.

Rhodes nominated Uncas Leap area at 196-200 Yantic St. for the award after considering several Norwich contenders. The history of the area dating to pre-European Native American times, its popularity for families taking walks and visitors and the current plans to upgrade the area into a top city attraction combined to bring this site to the top of Rhodes’ list.