Senator Witkos Hails 8th District Open Space Preservation Grants

June 18, 2021

Hartford, CT – State Senator Kevin Witkos (R-Canton) has hailed the decision to grant open space preservation grants to several 8th Senate District applicants.  The grants were made under the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program, administered by the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.

 

“The decision to award these grants to several 8th District entities is welcome news and I am thrilled that these projects were selected.  Through the hard work of our towns, conservancy groups and land trusts, these open spaces will remain natural and accessible for years to come.  I applaud the work of the applicants and I am grateful to the Governor and Commissioner Dykes of the DEEP for their support of their efforts” said Senator Witkos.

 

“As we see our open spaces in Connecticut begin to diminish in the face of overdevelopment, the preservation of these areas is even more important.  Ensuring the continued existence of open spaces and the protection of our natural resources is a worthy goal.  I was proud to have supported these projects, and to have voted in support of funding for the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program funding while as a member of the state bond commission” added Senator Witkos.

 

Local projects awarded funding include:

 

Town: Colebrook
Project Name: Sandy Brook Forest Preserve
Sponsor: Colebrook Land Conservancy, Inc.
Grant: $117,600
Total Area: 146.8 acres

 

Town: Norfolk
Project Name: Kopp Property
Sponsor: Norfolk Land Trust, Inc.
Grant: $328,000
Total Area: 235 acres

 

Town: Simsbury
Project Name: Meadowood Open Space
Sponsor: Town of Simsbury
Grant: $500,000
Total Area: 138 acres

The Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program provides financial assistance to municipalities and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire land for open space, and to water companies to acquire land to be classified as Class I or Class II water supply property.

Awards are granted to projects that offer the highest conservation and recreational value and that leverage the greatest percentage of private and municipal funding.  The State of Connecticut has a goal of setting aside 21% of land as open space by 2023.

 

 

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