GOV. MALLOY: OPEN
SPACE GRANTS TO PRESERVE NEARLY 3,000 ACRES OF LAND ACROSS CONNECTICUT
$9 Million Awarded to 35 Cities and Towns to Protect
Open Space
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced
awards of more than $9 million in Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition
grants to support 35 communities in purchasing 2,732 acres to be preserved as
open space.
“Land conservation is an important investment in our future,
and moves us closer to meeting our goal of protecting 21 percent of
Connecticut’s land as open space in the next ten years,” said Governor
Malloy. “These preservation projects are key to maintaining our high
quality of life and making Connecticut a great place to live, work, and raise a
family.” [...]
The projects funded under this year’s Open Space and
Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program include:
Project Title
Chotkowski Property
Sponsor
Town of Berlin
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Berlin
$500,000
71.1 acres
Description:
This former farm is located on the east side of Chamberlain Highway (Rt.
71). This property is adjacent to other protected lands and will create a
continuous open space corridor of 488 acres. The Metacomet Loop Trail
will be located on this property and link into the Metacomet Trail (NE Scenic
Trail).
Project Title
Hawk Hill Farm
Sponsor
Wintonbury Land Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Bloomfield
$247,500
44.9 acres
Description:
Located off Duncaster Road in Bloomfield, this parcel abuts the local LaSallette
Park and opens the possibility of linking to and expand existing trails.
The property is physically divided by two wetlands running north-south and is
characterized by open fields, wooded areas, rocky ridges, wetlands and a
pond. The property includes approximately 22 acres of prime farmland,
which are still being farmed.
Project Title
Risley Apple Orchard
Sponsor
Manchester Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Bolton
$80,000
13.15 acres
Description:
Located on the east side of Lake Street in the Town of Bolton, this parcel is
just below and abutting the dam and spillway of Risley Reservoir.
Acquiring this parcel will create an opportunity to connect existing trails to
the Shenipsit Trail as well as protect Wilson Brook which flows to Lydall #2
Reservoir in Manchester.
Project Title
Kaczynski Property
Sponsor
Town of Branford
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Branford
$137,500
21.98 acres
Description:
Located in the lower Farm River estuary adjacent to Beacon Hill, this property
contains tidal salt marsh, upland grass land and undeveloped shoreline
forest. The property also has about five acres of important farmland
soil. The property is also within the southern range of the Bolton Range
Forested Corridor, which has been identified as a habitat to thousands of
migrating raptors.
Project Title
Brewster Property
Sponsor
Canton Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Canton
$35,500
4.839 acres
Description: The
acquisition of this parcel connects two properties currently owned by Canton
Land Conservation Trust, one of them being the "Arnold Property"
acquired with a grant in 2005. It adds to the protection of the Onion Mountain
ridgeline wildlife habitats, hardwood forest, and geologic features and allows
the opportunity to expand recreation/educational trails from Roaring Brook
Nature Center to Sexton's Road.
Project Title
Puchalski Property
Sponsor
Town of Cheshire
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Cheshire
$200,000
109 acres
Description:
Running along the ridgeline along the Prospect-Cheshire town line, this parcel
abuts protected open space to the north, south, and west. Ownership will
protect the ridgeline and its diverse wildlife, forests, and
wetlands. The existing structure on this property will be razed to
provide parking and a trail head to the existing trails.
Project Title
Dowd Parcel
Sponsor
Clinton Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Clinton
$58,500
16.69 acres
Description: This
parcel will be incorporated into the 98.4-acre Jessie Buell Forest and managed
as an undeveloped forested block. Its location would provide additional
road access and trail connectivity. A portion of Bass Brook, a cold water
tributary to Indian River, runs through this property and provides aquatic
habitat. There is also much wildlife habitat on the property as well as
an existing multiuse trail system.
Project Title
Weiss and Loveday Properties
Sponsor
Town of Clinton
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Clinton
$160,000
38.49 acres
Description:
Located in the northwestern corner of Clinton, close to Killingworth line,
these parcels are located in an important aquifer recharge area of Connecticut
Water Company (Class I and II). These properties contain a high quality
wooded wetland and a mature hardwood forest which provide a healthy and diverse
wildlife habitat. Both properties abut Cockaponset State Forest next to
the Clinton Conservation Trust property, creating a block of almost 64
protected acres.
Project Title
88 Brainard Road
Sponsor
Norwich Public Utilities
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Colchester &
Salem
$157,000
52.9 acres
Description:
This acquisition will expand the Deep River public water supply
watershed. The parcel is bisected by Brainard Brook, which feeds directly
into the reservoir. This property, once purchased, will be classified as
Class 1 watershed land.
Project Title
Cooley Farm
Sponsor
Cornwall Conservation Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Cornwall
$450,000
84.07 acres
Description:
Located off Cherry Hill Road in West Cornwall, this property is part of the
Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area. A portion of the property
is currently used for haying, it also contains a wetland area and a tributary
to the Housatonic River, and a trail network. The purchase will help
assemble a larger fragmented forested block in this area.
Project Title
Zeiller Associates Property
Sponsor
Town of East Haddam
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
East
Haddam
$232,500
98.22 acres
Description:
Purchase of this property is part of a larger effort to better protect the
Roaring Brook watershed. In this grant round there are three projects
within this watershed—two in East Haddam and one in Lyme. Combined, these
properties will create a greenbelt of more than 750 acres. The Zeiller
property and others being slated for protection are upland forest blocks with
intermittent streams, woodland wetlands and vernal pools. The Zeiller
property has 4,000 feet of frontage along Roaring Brook and contains healthy
and diverse wildlife and vegetative habitats and existing trails.
Project Title
Pages Property
Sponsor
Town of East Haddam
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
East
Haddam
$464,000
238 acres
Description:
Purchase of this property is part of a larger effort to better protect the
Roaring Brook watershed. This property abuts the Dean Easement area,
combined this is a greenbelt of over 750 acres. These parcels are upland
forest blocks (hardwood), having intermittent streams, woodland wetlands and
vernal pools. The property has 1,500 feet of frontage along Roaring
Brook. Because of the proximity to a wetland resource, it
offers healthy and diverse wildlife and vegetative habitats.
Project Title
Gurley Brook Preserve
Sponsor
Woodsmen Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
East
Lyme
$500,000
170 acres
Description:
This property is located just north of the Route 1, I-95 & I-395
intersection, and is within the 2,000 foot Route 11 Greenway. The
undeveloped hardwood forest on a gentle sloping topography hosts natural
resource features such as Gurley Brook (headwaters of the Niantic River), ledge
outcroppings, forest wetlands and the ridgeline associated with Sodom
Hill. There are currently existing trails that access the interior of
this property.
Project Title
Scantic River Parcel
Sponsor
Town of Enfield
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Enfield
$40,000
32.06 acres
Description: This
parcel lies within a Level A Aquifer Protection area for two water companies
(HWC & CWC). The parcel abuts Scantic River State Park , protected
open space owned by DEEP and land protected by the town. The property is
typical of a wooded meandering flood plain and has several thousand feet of
Scantic River frontage.
Project Title
Candlewood Ridge
Sponsor
Groton Open Space Association, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Groton
$256,750
91.04 acres
Description:
Located in north central Groton, this 91 acre property is characterized by
rugged ledge outcroppings surrounding several large wetlands along with several
vernal pools, including a cranberry bog. Three streams flow out of these
wetlands to forested peat land, which creates important habitat for
wildlife. With forested and vegetative undergrowth along with extensive
and varied wetland resources, it offers healthy and diverse wildlife and
vegetative habitats.
Project Title
Westwoods Parcel
Sponsor
Guilford Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Guilford
$60,000
17.1 acres
Description:
This property is an “in-holding” in an undeveloped forested area known as
Westwoods. This property directly abuts sections of Cockaponset State
Forest and will serve as a linkage. Due to its “in-holding”
classification and location, the property provides high quality wildlife
habitat within a hardwood forest characterized by numerous outcroppings,
boulders, and ledges, in addition to wetlands.
Project Title
Rita Edwards Preserve
Sponsor
Town of Hampton
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Hampton
$101,500
50.8 acres
Description:
This undeveloped forested lot is located on the north side of Cedar Swamp
Road. The property abuts protected open space land owned by Wyndham Land
Trust and Goodwin State Forest. The property is characterized by a
slightly sloping terrain that sustains a mixed hardwood forest and wetlands.
Project Title
Cardillo Parcels
Sponsor
Town of Hebron
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Hebron
$165,000
48.7 acres
Description: Located
on the west side of Route 85/Church Street in the Amston section, this property
is made up of two parcels that abut state-owned open space—Raymond Brook Marsh and
the Air Line Trail. They are key components to the preservation of the Raymond
Brook Greenbelt and protection of the associated aquifer.
Project Title
Camp Francis
Sponsor
Kent Land Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Kent\Warren
$500,000
253.1 acres
Description:
Located in the towns of Kent and Warren, this property directly abuts protected
open space (Wyantenock State Forest and Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust).
Principally an undeveloped forest block, the property has multiple natural
resources that are important to protect and preserve. With an irregular
topography, numerous bedrock outcroppings, a large wetland, several vernal
pools and a dense hardwood second-growth forest, this parcel is a rich and
diverse wildlife habitat.
Project Title
Lorman Property
Sponsor
South Central Regional Water Authority
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Killingworth
$335,000
64.5 acres
Description:
Located on the north side of Burr Hill Road in Killingworth, this 64.5-acre
parcel abuts Cockaponset State Forest to the north and RWA property to the east
and west. This undeveloped forested property contains watershed lands and
features an unnamed watercourse tributary to Lake Hammonasset (public water
supply reservoir) flowing through it.
Project Title
Lord Property
Sponsor
Lyme Land Conservation Trust, Inc
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Lyme & East
Haddam
$327,000
100.25 acres
Description:
Located in northern Lyme along Route 82 and within Whalebone Cove Watershed,
this parcel has over 3,900 feet of frontage along Roaring Brook. It is
part of the larger effort to better protect the Roaring Brook Watershed –there
are there are two other projects in this grant round and were two in a previous
grant round. The parcel is characteristic of a flood plain forest,
having wetlands, undeveloped upland forest, fields and rock outcropping with
ledges. There is an existing trail system on this property.
Project Title
Case Reservoir
Sponsor
Town of Manchester
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Manchester
$205,000
34 acres
Description:
This project is the acquisition of three parcels off Spring Street, two
directly abutting Case Pond/Reservoir and the third an additional buffer parcel
with road frontage on Spring Street. Acquisition of these parcels will
link Case Pond to the remaining forested block of Case Mountain, protect the
Birch Mountain Watershed, enhance existing recreation and provide almost
unlimited access to the south shore of Case Pond. Manchester has received
five Open Space Grants to protect 163.52 acres at Case Mountain.
Project Title
Andrew Mountain Road OS
Sponsor
Borough of Naugatuck
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Naugatuck
$315,250
100.34 acres
Description:
Off Andrew Mountain Road (Old Derby Turnpike) in southwestern Naugatuck, this
146-acre parcel directly abuts Naugatuck State Forest. The grant will
allow the purchase of just over 100 acres of the property for passive outdoor
recreation, while the remaining portion will be used for more active
recreation. The property is characterized by a forested rolling
topography, several open agricultural fields, a depression area that seasonally
floods and several large wetland areas. The property is bisected by
Spruce Brook, a tributary to the Naugatuck River.
Project Title
Camp Iwakta
Sponsor
Norfolk Land Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Norfolk
$284,000
311 acres
Description:
Acquisition of this parcel will contribute to nearly 2,000 acres of forest and
the associated ecosystems. This property is forested, as is the
surrounding protected property. With a section of the Mad River, part of
a large pond, a headwater stream feeding the Mad River, the rugged topography,
ridges, and vernal pools provide rich and varied habitats. The property
is accessed via the historic railroad bed, previously purchased with the
support of an Open Space Grant.
Project Title
Babcock Ridge Preserve
Sponsor
Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
North
Stonington
$142,500
74.012 acres
Description: Located
in North Stonington on the north side of Babcock Road, this undeveloped parcel
abuts Avalonia land to the north and links up to land across Babcock Road to
the south. The property is characterized by exposed ledges, steep slopes,
wetlands, several vernal pools, and unnamed tributaries to Babcock Brook and
the Shunock River. This proposal is a buy-out as Avalonia owns 25% interest in
this property.
Project Title
31 New London Turnpike
Sponsor
City of Norwich
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Norwich
$123,516
3.8 acres
Description:
This commercially-zoned property with several structures is located on the
west-side of New London Turnpike and the south bank of the Yantic River.
This property is located within the flood zone of the Yantic River. After
purchase, the property will be reclaimed, the buildings will be demolished and
the area restored to a natural state allowing public access to more than 1,000
feet of the Yantic River. The grant will assist and match FEMA Hazard
Mitigation funding.
Project Title
Elyandco, Inc. Parcel
Sponsor
Old Lyme Land Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Old
Lyme
$143,500
44.17 acres
Description: A
long range goal of the Old Lyme Land Trust is to link protected open space
across the town and to make existing preserves accessible to the public.
Acquisition of the Elyandco parcel will be a keystone parcel to accomplish this
goal. This parcel directly abuts several protected properties
including Hatchetts Hill Preserve, and Chestnut Hills and Peppermint
Ridge—both privately owned and not open to the public at this time.
Armstrong Brook traverses through the large wetland that exists on this parcel
along with the wetlands found at Hatchetts Hill Preserve, the headwaters for
this brook. The undeveloped forested lot with a rolling topography
creates exceptional wildlife habitat.
Project Title
Tanager Hill
Sponsor
Simsbury Land Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Simsbury
$500,000
92.49 acres
Description: This
undeveloped 91-acre parcel is located on the western slope of the Metacomet
Trap Rock Ridge in Simsbury. The parcel extends from Penwood State Forest
to Weatogue Street. The parcel is rich with a variety of habitats, from a
mix of hardwoods forest, traprock, open grass fields, wooded wetland, two
vernal pools, pine and hemlock growth areas, and two small running
streams. There is an existing trail network within this property that
links to Simsbury Land Trust lands and Penwood State Forest.
Project Title
Ethel Walker School Parcel -C
Sponsor
Town of Simsbury
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Simsbury
$500,000
41.8 acres
Description: This
parcel represents the last acquisition from the Ethel Walker School
grounds. It is part of an almost 400-acre preserve that in combination to
abutting protected land, other Town open space, Massaco State Forest, Stratton
Brook State Park, Onion Mountain, Tootin' Hills Association, and Simsbury Coon
Club, encompasses about 1,100 acres. Approximately 80 percent of this parcel is
an undeveloped forested lot with wetlands, vernal pools and streams all
providing a rich wildlife habitat. The remaining area is an open grass
area developed for equestrian use.
Project Title
Camp Aya-Po YWCA
Sponsor
Town of Somers
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Somers
$450,000
173.45 acres
Description:
Located in the northeast section of Somers, this property is actually two
separate parcels separated by Camp Road. The natural resources found on
the property include: Lake Hurd, an 18-acre pristine pond and headwater for
Gillette Brook, a mixed timber stand of hardwoods and softwoods, old pastures,
and a topography that ranges from rolling to steep. This site has
developed facilities for picnicking, fishing, and parking. Structural buildings
not directly needed in the management of this site for passive recreation will
be removed. There is an existing trail network within this property that
links to the Blue Trail System.
Project Title
365 Georges Hill Road
Sponsor
Town of Southbury
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Southbury
$96,500
18.91 acres
Description:
This property is an addition to a 38-acre parcel of land the town purchased
with a grant in 2007. It is an undeveloped forested parcel with a steep
rocky ridge running through the middle. The town plans to utilize this
parcel along with other town-owned land to provide parking and access to land
purchased under this program.
Project Title
Stillmeadow Farm
Sponsor
Southbury Land Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Southbury
$81,500
12 acres
Description:
Stillmeadow Farm is a link to an emerging greenbelt with resources that include
vernal pools, grass lands, wooded wetlands, ledge formations, and prime
agriculture soils. It is within Southbury's Aquifer Protection
District. The property is approximately 2,000 feet from the Larkin State
Bridal Trail. Stillmeadow Farm is on the National Register of Historic
Places.
Project Title
Coogan Farm
Sponsor
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Stonington
$500,000
24.38 acres
Description: This
property will connect to 300 acres managed by the Nature Center. The
property consists of old agricultural fields, grass lands, old orchards, upland
forest, wet meadows, and scrub shrub wetlands. While not physically in contact
with Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium and Denison Homestead, the property
provides trails that directly connect all these education resources in
addition, utilizing a natural ridgeline, these trails offer scenic views of
Mystic River and Valley.
Project Title
Gunther Farm
Sponsor
Connecticut Farmland Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Tolland/Vernon
$350,000
21.3 acres
Description:
Located along the town-line between Tolland and Vernon this is an acquisition
to protect farmland soils. Additional natural resources include: grassland
habitat, flood plain of Gages Brook, and endangered wildlife habitat.
Connecticut Farm Land Trust will purchase this property, record the
Conservation Easement, then sell the property to Tolland County Agricultural
Center. The Center will utilize the agricultural fields for their education/agricultural
programs and develop and maintain the trails located at this facility.
Project Title
Manchester Property
Sponsor
The New Roxbury Land Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Union
$146,500
84 acres
Description:
This is the acquisition of two separate parcels of land in close proximity to
each other. The southern parcel is a 53-acre densely forested lot with a
3-acre hay field all within the Nachaug River Watershed. The northern
parcel is a 31-acre dense forest block within the Quinebaug River Basin and is
contiguous to Nipmuck State Forest. This parcel contains wetlands and a
stream that drains to Breakneck Pond.
Project Title
Shenda Property
Sponsor
Watertown Land Trust, Inc.
Town
Grant Amount
Total Area
Watertown
$135,000
75.00 acres
Description:
Located at 195 Hinman Road, this property is a former dairy farm with meadows
that are hayed regularly. There is a large beaver pond on the western
border, which complements the hardwood forest that makes up about a third of
the property habitat. Special note: Nonnewaug granite, a unique
geological formation, is found on this parcel as well as Adder's tongue, a
unique vegetative species. The property has an existing trail system, and
is located in close to Nonnewaug Falls in Woodbury.
Community Garden Grant for Bridgeport
Project Title 73-127
Garden Street
Sponsor
Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport
Town
Grant amount
Total Area
Bridgeport
$171,500.00
1.50 acres
Description: Located
at 77-127 Garden Street this 1.5 acre parcel will be transformed from a vacant
barren lot into a passive neighborhood park with community gardens. Once
completed, this park will become part of a linkage of municipally owned and
maintained open space parks and natural areas in the city.
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