State Preservation Grant Awarded For Land In Ellington

ELLINGTON, CT, — Gov. Ned Lamont on Wednesday announced that the state is awarding $9.1 million to support grants for 24 communities in the purchase of 2,466 acres of land that will be designated as open space.

A parcel in Ellington is included.

The grants are authorized under the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and assists local governments, land trusts, and water companies in purchasing land to protect open space.

The program is intended to protect wildlife habitats, offer recreational opportunities, and serve as a buffer and adaptation to climate change. Recipient projects are required to supplement the state funding with matching funds or other grants, and the land being purchased must be protected by a conservation and public recreation easement that will ensure the property is forever protected for public use and enjoyment.

In Ellington, the Wraight Property is being awarded $132,000 on an application sponsored by the Northern Connecticut Land Trust.

The 118.4-acre tract of undeveloped land is located next to the Shenipsit State Forest. The property is primarily forested and has 3.7 acres of hayfields near Webster Road. Charters Brook runs north-to-south through the center of the property and into Shenipsit Lake Reservoir. The abandoned portion of Porter Road will be converted into a 2-mile trail and will provide a link to the Soapstone Loop C trail, the White Dot trail, and the Shenipsit Blue hiking trails. The site can be accessed along 1,625 feet of frontage on Webster Road.