Hampton to receive Open Space Grant Part of 950 acres of land across Connecticut for Preservation

Hartford, CT – State Senator Tony Guglielmo (R-Stafford) is pleased to see Hampton’s Edwards Preserve will be receiving an open space grant from the state to protect land for future generations to enjoy.

“This grant will help the town purchase nearly 7 acres of land expanding the existing Maurice and Rita Edwards Preserve,” said Sen. Guglielmo. “It is a beautiful piece of property with woods, open fields and close to the state forest. People will get great joy out of this addition.”

The $22,750 grant will be put toward the total cost of the land which is estimated to be $51,375. In all the state allocated $5.9 million in state open space grants to 17 sites.

The original Maurice and Rita Edwards Preserve was purchased with a grant from this same program in 2013. The new parcel has more than 1,000 feet of road frontage and is adjacent on three sides to the existing Edwards Preserve.

The Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program, administered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), assists local governments and land trusts in purchasing open space using funding from the 2005 Community Investment Act and state bond funds.

In total, more than 665,000 of Connecticut’s residents (or 19% of our population) will be within a ten minute drive of one of these resources. DEEP prioritizes funding for projects that meet the multiple goals of open space, such as protecting vital habitats, creating and enhancing recreational resources, and protecting valuable water resources.

Open space protection projects help Connecticut achieve the goal to protect 673,210 acres of land by 2023. Connecticut has 500,242 acres designated as state or local open space lands, 74.3 percent of the goal.