New Haven Gets $130K Funding For Green Space Renewal/Restoration

NEW HAVEN, CT —Gov. Ned Lamont Wednesday said his administration is "releasing" state funds to purchase and protect 1,013 acres of open space in 17 communities across the state. And $276,200 will go toward restoring and renewing green spaces in six urban areas.

New Haven will see funding from the latter.

The funds are provided through the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program and the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program, which are both administered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program provides funding assistance to develop or enhance urban open spaces for public enjoyment and/or environmental education. Promotion of open space in an urban setting may include, but may not be limited to, the development of a community garden or reclaiming and enhancing existing open space for the public’s use. Grants are awarded to projects that demonstrate the highest ability to benefit urban communities in close proximity to population centers.

Urban Green and Community Garden Grants are going to:

City: New Haven

Sponsor: City of New Haven and Gather New Haven

Grant: $70,000
Total Area: Around 80 acres, improvements to 27 community gardens and 3 preserves
Description: Gather New Haven supports more than 50 community gardens and six nature preserves in New Haven. This project is to improve and restore 27 gardens and 3 preserves based upon a comprehensive needs assessment. Some gardens received funding from previous UGCG grants (2010 and 2014) but have additional needs to ensure sustainability and community support. All sites are publicly accessible. Most need soil, many need raised beds and new tools, and several need new sheds (a safe, secure place to lock tools and equipment). Other needs include hoop houses, low tunnels to extend the growing season, fencing, signage, and improved trails and pathways to ensure safe walking conditions. Gather New Haven will work with community volunteers to increase the productive growing, enhance community spaces, and complement community engagement and food-related programs. Pre-pandemic activities included hosting school groups, community potluck dinners, art shows, musical performances, movie nights, yoga classes, and other workshops. Some of these are starting to return, especially hosting school groups. The gardens provide access to healthy foods of various ages and ethnic backgrounds. Gather New Haven’s Community Garden Manager and staff work closely with community members to create free events about the environment and healthy eating and engaging others in stewardship and cultivation of land for a healthier community and environment.

City: New Haven
Sponsor: City of New Haven and Urban Resources Initiative
Grant: $60,950
Total Area: 10.9 acres
Description: The City of New Haven and the Urban Resources Initiative (URI) plan to transform Kimberly Field, the largest park in the Hill neighborhood. It is currently overgrown with invasives, has a neglected baseball field that drains poorly resulting in wet, unusable conditions, and a basketball court that is in need of repairs. The city and URI will create a walking trail around the perimeter of the field and connect it to the adjacent Betsey Ross Arts Magnet School Middle School so the school can use the space daily. The first objective is to create a safe environment, clear trash, remove existing derelict features, demolish baseball backstops and dugouts, and bring in social service agencies to relocate individuals. A 6-foot-wide walking trail accessible to persons with disabilities for recreational use will be constructed, with road millings, compacted and covered with stone dust. Twenty-four trees, shrubs, and wildflowers will be planted along the trail to provide shade and create a beautiful inviting space. To ensure safe access for people with disabilities, permeable pavers will be installed to cover the sloped area between the school and trail/field, and benches and trash receptacles will be added. URI will engage students, families, school staff, and residents in volunteer workdays to plant, mulch, and water the garden along the trail. Local youth will water the vegetation twice weekly, and after the improvements are completed, the city’s Parks and Public Works Departments will maintain the property to include mowing of the lawn and trash removal.