GROTON, CT — Groton has received $3.5 million in state funding to demolish and rebuild Griswold Pier, the city's only public fishing pier, according to a statement.
The Connecticut State Bond Commission approved the funding during a Sept. 8 special meeting. The money will be administered through the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The pier, located at 75 Shore Ave., has been partially closed after an assessment found the structure was in serious-to-poor condition. The approximately 87-foot-long concrete pier sits on a stone masonry foundation.
Based on the assessment, city officials determined that demolishing and rebuilding the pier was the safest option.
Griswold Pier was once part of the Griswold Hotel and has since become a public spot for fishing and other waterfront activities.
"The Fishing Pier has long been a special part of life along the City of Groton waterfront," Mayor Jill Rusk said in a statement.
Rusk said the pier provides an affordable way for residents and visitors to access the waterfront and serves as a community gathering place.
The replacement is expected to restore public access to the Thames River and Long Island Sound for fishing, picnicking and other shoreline recreation.
The project remains in the conceptual stage. Upcoming work includes design, environmental review, permitting, demolition and reconstruction.
The city's bonding application anticipates work beginning within six months of receiving the funding, with completion targeted for October 2028.
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