Middletown Awarded Open Space Grant

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The state of Connecticut is awarding $9.1 million to support grants for 24 communities, including Middletown, to purchase 2,466 acres of land that will be designated as open space, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday. 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 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,” according to a news release. 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.”

“Open space is vital to environmental protection and a bright economic future for our state,” Lamont said in a statement. “This program is an important component of preserving some of our state’s best and most beautiful land, and by partnering with our municipalities and nonprofits we can ensure that these valuable resources are preserved in perpetuity for generations to come.”

The latest projects bring the total land in Connecticut designated as state or local open space to 500,000 acres – approximately two-thirds of the way toward the state’s goal of having 673,210 acres designated as open space, according to the release.

“Open space preserves important natural resources and provides our communities with beautiful local recreational resources,” State Sen. Mary Daugherty Abrams (D-Meriden, Cheshire, Middlefield, Middletown, and Rockfall) said. “I am so happy that nearly 50 acres of land in Middletown will become open space, further adding to our incredible forests and preserving local wildlife, most prominently birds of prey. I would like to thank Governor Lamont for his support of environmental protection and the Berlin Land Trust for its efforts in protecting this property.”

State Sen. Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) said “I was proud to work with the Berlin Land Trust in support this proposal over a number of months. Protecting this vital landscape for future generations is a major win for Middletown and the state of Connecticut.”

In December, the State Bond Commission, which is chaired by Lamont, approved an allocation of $5 million to fund the program.

Middletown will receive more than $63,000 for the following project:

Project Name: Lamentation Mountain: Tighe-Baldyga Property Acquisition

Sponsor: Berlin Land Trust, Inc.

Grant: $63,450

Total Area: 47 acres

Description: Located at the north end of Lamentation Mountain in Middletown, this parcel is part of the Metacomet Ridge. It contains five critical habitats and three basalt ridges. The property is landlocked by 450 acres of protected lands, and 190 acres of undeveloped land. This parcel is part of the 330.15 acres watershed of the eastern-most, north-flowing tributary of Spruce Brook. Forestry resources include a swamp cottonwood grove and an abundance of sugar maple, hop hornbeam, red cedar, chestnut oak, hickory and slippery elm. High crests and ridgelines create suitable habitat for raptors, hawks and owls. The property can be accessed from Lamentation Drive in Berlin via the Mattabesset Trail or from Stantack Road, which can accommodate parking for 10 vehicles.