NORWICH – The Friends of the Parks, a volunteer group that is suggesting improvements for East and West Parks in downtown Norwich, received a preliminary go ahead in committee this week.

A majority of the members of the Chenango County Agricultural, Buildings & Grounds Committee stamped their approval of the scaled back, $400,000 project’s design components. The proposal goes before the full Board of Supervisors for a vote in December.

In the making since 2002, the planning process was funded through a grant from the New York State Council of the Arts and was secured by the Norwich Business Improvement District and the Chenango County Planning Department. Since then, various groups and organizations throughout Chenango County were consulted for input.

The volunteers originally estimated a $1 million price tag for the project - which included restroom facilities that are no longer included - attached to a permanent stage in East Park.

According to a statement presented to the committee on Tuesday, despite changes in scope, the goal of the improvements remains to “enhance the charm, function and character of the parks and to provide a distinctive sense of place for current and future public events that will contribute to Norwich’s social and economic vitality.”