NORWICH – It’s out with the old and in with the new at the Christian Neighborhood Center of Norwich.

Thanks to the generosity of its volunteers and the monetary support of local foundations, the Christian Neighborhood Center, more commonly called “The Place,” is updating its playground for the scores of kids who participate in the organization’s after school and summer programming.

Last week, The Place broke ground on the new playground which administrators were able to purchase using grant funding from the Roger Follett Foundation, the R.C. Smith Foundation, and the Greater Norwich Foundation.

The $30,000 project is expected to be completed later this week.

Said The Place Director Rebecca Bliss, “We are so grateful to the foundations that have supported this project as well as Thompson Brothers, Inc., who is volunteering their time to excavate the play area; and Chad Harris at the Post Office who has worked with us to make sure we have parking space and room to move vehicles carrying heavy equipment in and out of the parking lot.”