NORWICH — No matter what day of the week, there’s somebody relaxing at Howard T. Brown Park. Norwich resident Karen Carignan was visiting the park on Monday, visiting with her friend Gary Moyer and playing checkers.
“Coming down here is nice and peaceful, except for a siren every once in a while,” Carignan said. “That’s to be expected downtown.”
Harbor Commission Chairman Tucker Braddock hopes new funding will keep the park an attraction for those in and near Norwich.
Brown Park is on Chelsea Harbor Drive next to Norwich Harbor, where the Shetucket and Yantic rivers meet to form the Thames River.
On Friday, state Rep. Emmitt Riley announced the State Bond Commission approved $544,020 in funding for Howard T. Brown Memorial Park to replace the docks, in addition to $200,000 set aside by Norwich in 2019 for the project.
“I’m encouraged that we’re getting something back from the State of Connecticut,” Braddock said. “It’s important to clean up Howard Brown Park, and this is one way of doing it.”
Work that will be done on the park, according to Braddock, includes replacing the docks at the front of the park and to the right of the boat launch, adding safety rails, and putting in a ramp for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. He expects the work to take place either in the fall or next spring.
“If it’s spring of 2022, then it won’t have that three or four months of winter wear,” Braddock said.
Braddock said the docks themselves aren’t safety hazards, but noted that they’re getting old, as they’ve been there for at least 28 years. He does give credit to Norwich Public Works for patching up the docks over the years.
“Concrete only has a certain life, and we feel that the docks have fulfilled their life,” Braddock said.
Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom specified that the flotation foam that makes up part of the docks erodes over time, and the dock could break apart. He also said the replacement docks will either be brought up either on flatbeds or up the Thames River.
Nystrom is hoping the improvements to the park will also encourage more events to be held there, including shows such as the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce’s Rock the Docks free weekly summer concerts.
Carignan also wants to see more events in the park.
“They used to have all kinds of festivals and stuff down here, and I’d like to see that come back,” Carignan said.
Riley also appreciates Howard T. Brown park as a resource for the city, pointing out all the bass fishing in the area.
“It’s joining at some very nice rivers, and there’s quite a current there and there’s some great fishing,” Riley said.
Carl Eskedal of Lebanon was doing some fly fishing at the park on Monday. He visits the park eight to 10 times a year, and he’s been going for the past 30 years. He feels as the docks are in fine condition.
“Guys who fish don’t really care,” Eskedal said. “They stand in the woods in the water.”
However, Eskedal said, making the docs more accessible for handicapped people is good.
“All the rivers have handicap accessible everything, so why not?” Eskedal said. “Makes sense to me.”
Braddock said the park is an asset for the city, as it gives people a chance to spend time on the water.
“This is something for the citizens of Norwich to enjoy, so let’s make it as good and cost-effective as we can,” Braddock said.
At a glance:
Norwich Harbor Commission Management Chairman Tucker Braddock wants to remind people to obey parking regulations at Howard T. Brown Memorial Park, and to not feed the ducks, as it disrupts their natural diet and could make them sick.
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