State Grant Helps Preserve Land Near East Granby

EAST GRANBY, CT — A 79-acre open space parcel in Windsor near the East Granby town line will be permanently preserved with help from a $455,000 state grant.

The Stone Road Open Space project received funding through the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program, according to State Rep. Tami Zawistowski.

The property is located near Miller and Stone roads, east of Spoonville Road and north of Miller Road. It is near properties at the end of Pond Lane and Sweetbriar Road and abuts East Granby.

The land is mainly wooded and its preservation will prevent development near existing warehouse uses while protecting habitat, water quality and a wooded buffer for nearby neighborhoods, according to Zawistowski.

The parcel is part of the Farmington River watershed and drains toward West Brook, a tributary of the Farmington River. Wetlands and natural buffers on the property help filter stormwater before it reaches the river system.

The site also includes meadow, wetland and forest habitats that function as a local wildlife corridor, according to the project description.

The Windsor project was one of several open space preservation efforts included in a broader $9.4 million state grant announcement. The funding supports the purchase and protection of more than 1,243 acres across 14 properties in 15 communities.

Plans for the Windsor parcel include a small off-street parking area on Stone Road and a loop trail for passive recreation, including walking, birdwatching and nature study.

The project also supports regional greenway goals identified by the Farmington River Watershed Association and Windsor’s Greenway Plan by helping connect preserved open spaces in northwest Windsor with the Lower Farmington River Greenway.

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