Norwich — The historic Taftville mill village is the target of attention in this year’s round of federal Community Development Block Grants, with separate funding requested for a village park, security cameras and new sidewalks along Route 97. 

The city’s Community Development Office received 19 requests for funding for various projects, including the $155,761 for the office administration, with requests totaling $1.3 million.

But the city expects to receive a federal CDBG grant of $778,804 in the grant year that begins in September.

The Community Development Advisory Committee met Tuesday to hear presentations from several grant applicants, and will meet at 2:30 p.m. Thursday to hear more presentations.

The committee will make its recommendations for funding to the City Council in May.

The council will hold a public hearing before voting on funding requests.

Three separate requests were submitted for Taftville projects, two by the city Public Works Department, led by the $110,000 for the second phase of the new village park on the grounds of the former Taftville Little League complex.

The park plan received $30,000 in startup funds from the CDBG program last fall, and the decaying dugouts and concession stand building were demolished.

Neighbors have been meeting regularly with former acting City Manager John Bilda to design the village park.

The grant request includes $50,000 for a playground for older children, $15,000 for a playground for small children, $15,000 for fencing and $30,000 for a gazebo.

The Public Works Department would construct a walking trail, the parking lot and some planting, Public Works Director Ryan Thompson said. Norwich Public Utilities would install lighting.

The neighborhood group would seek donations of shrubs or trees to reduce noise, the applications stated.

“This project is reflective of true community development,” the application stated, “in that it is being implemented with neighborhood stakeholders and involves multiple government and non-government organizations.”

The Public Works Department also submitted an $83,000 request for sidewalks that would run from the new Hills at River View apartment complex on Route 97 to North B Street.

A future Taftville sidewalk phase would run to Providence Street.

Across Route 97, developers of the $30 million renovation of the historic Ponemah Mill will install sidewalks as part of the project that calls for converting the mill into 116 apartments, Thompson said.

The Norwich Police Department submitted a grant request for $99,930 for security cameras in public street locations in the heart of the village.

The system would be similar to those in place in downtown Norwich and Greeneville, Police Chief Louis Fusaro said.

Longtime Taftville neighborhood watch Chairwoman Denise Relyea welcomed the attention coming to Taftville. 

Relyea also chaired neighborhood meetings to plan the new village park and decide what top priority park features should be included.

She also supports installation of village cameras, suggesting Providence Street near Wequonnoc School and South B Street should be equipped.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Relyea said of the funding requests for Taftville. “It’s about time.”

c.bessette@theday.com