Guilford Receives $85K to Preserve Open Space

Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-Guilford) and Representative Sean Scanlon (D-Guilford) joined Governor Dannel P. Malloy today to announce a state grant for the Guilford Land Conservation Trust.

“Like many of Connecticut’s shoreline communities, Guilford is known for its beautiful natural environment. The grant approved today will ensure we can preserve that beauty for future generations,” said Senator Kennedy, Senate Chair of the Environment Committee. “Today’s announcement means that Guilford residents can count on the Westwoods area to remain protected, preserving the natural character that makes this community such a great place for families to live.”

“The Westwoods is one of Guilford’s greatest natural treasures and I’m thrilled to have worked with Sen. Kennedy and the Guilford Land Trust to help secure this grant so that Westwoods can be enjoyed for generations to come,” said Representative Sean Scanlon.

The Guilford Land Conservation Trust will receive at $85,150 grant for the preservation of Westwoods North. This 17 acre parcel is the center of a northern hardwood forest on the Connecticut shoreline known as Westwoods in Guilford. Property owners of this large 740 acre forest block include the State of Connecticut (Cockaponset State Forest), Guilford Land Trust and private property owners. Acquisition will assist in protecting a forested block on the Connecticut shoreline, aid in the enhancement of the wildlife habitat and protect the water quality flowing to Long Island Sound. Acquisition of this parcel will protect established public hiking trails that have been in existence for over 50 years.

Guilford is one of 17 communities being awarded grants to day to protect 949 acres of open space, to assist three urban communities in enhancing or developing community gardens, and to allow a fourth urban community to establish a natural habitat for environmental education.

“Preserving the best of Connecticut’s open space is critical to protecting our land, water, and wildlife and ensuring Connecticut maintains its natural beauty,” Governor Malloy said. “Through these grants, we will increase the availability of open space for our residents to enjoy – whether they live in our state’s beautiful cities, suburbs or rural areas.”

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. More than $125 million in state funding has been awarded to municipalities, nonprofit land conservation organizations, and water companies to assist in the purchase of 32,237 acres of land in 135 cities and towns.

“When we work with our partners to protect open space, we protect our natural resources, we enhance our communities and sense of place, and we have new locations where we can connect with the natural world,” DEEP Commissioner Rob Klee said. “This funding is another step toward meeting our goal of preserving twenty-one percent of Connecticut’s land, or 673,210 acres, as open space by the year 2023.”