Urban park's makeover was nearly a century in the making

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — When Jorge Chiluisa first came to Stamford to work in 1990, his boss at GE Capital told him and his colleagues not to walk through Mill River Park.

"He said it was dangerous," Chiluisa said. "We were all young and liked to go downtown to the bars after work, and he wanted us to be safe."

Mill River then was stagnant, with car tires and shopping carts visible in the mud. The park was rundown, a home for drug dealers.

"My boss told us to stay on the sidewalk when we were walking to the train, and don't go in that park," Chiluisa said.