STONINGTON — Historic preservation and environmental cleanup needs have long hindered construction from moving forward at Mystic River Boathouse Park, but approval of site design last week has officials hopeful that a shovel could hit the ground later this year.

Members of the town’s Architectural Design Review Board voted unanimously last week to approve design plans for the park, which will be built on a 1.5-acre parcel along Route 27 just north of Mystic Seaport. The approval is just one of several local and state boards that will need before beginning physical work.

First Selectman Danielle Chesebrough said that although this is just the first hurdle in the permit and review process, it is a big step towards bringing a project to fruition that has been in the works for seven years now. Voters first approved a bond in 2016 that granted the town $2.2 million in bonding to use for purchase and development of the park.

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