It’s been an unusual work cycle for the project, but Norfolk’s River Point Park is making pretty good progress.

“I’ve seen these and experienced these in many different states here in the midwest,” said city engineer Steve Rames, “I’m very hopeful for the community on that.”

The concept is what’s called a “pocket park”, which will be just beneath the Johnny Carson mural in downtown Norfolk. It will be a small community center that will help bolster business, and community, in the area.

“Hopefully we see some local musicians that come and plugin and give us a little show every now and then, just to help liven up the place,” Rames said.

While the snow is covering up a lot of the effort that went into the renovation, Norfolk Park and Recreations Director Pat Mrsny says it's all come a long way.

“May not look like there’s a lot finished, but a lot is the concrete work here and everything underground,” Mrsney said,  “and that was a major undertaking there.”

And stone-cold concrete isn't the only thing the project is bringing to downtown - some trees will also help complement the scene.

“There’s different types that are coming in here,” Mrsny said. “I think a couple of ginkgos, a couple of crab apples.”

While the park was originally expected to be finished early this year, revisions to the design pushed back the completion date. 

“Then you run into COVID, so you know it was tough to get stuff. We’re still waiting for some stuff to come in,” Mrsny said.

“It’s just the way these projects go.”

But Rames and Mrsny say smooth construction thanks to unexpectedly good weather is putting the project on track for a grand opening on the very first of May.