Oxford Set To Get $409K From CT In $7.3M Open Space Funding Program

OXFORD, CT — Oxford will get $409,500 for the Vaill Property, part of the $7.29 million in state funds set to be distributed to 17 communities to buy and protect open space,

The funding was announced by Gov. Ned Lamont Wednesday. The funds are for the state to purchase and protect 1,013 acres of open space in 17 communities.

According to the statement, Oxford will receive the funds for the property located at 117 Good Hill Road.

"Approximately 98% of the property is classified as forest, so this purchase will protect the land from deforestation, a primary contributor to climate change and the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions," according to the statement. "The town plans to create a foot trail, linking this property to the Lake Zoar Greenway Trail, which runs along the abutting open space parcels. This forested habitat is home to a great diversity of plant and animal life. Good Hill Brook, a small tributary, flows through the Vaill Property to Lake Zoar."

Also being funded is $276,200 to restore and renew green spaces in six urban areas.

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.

Since the state's open space program began in 1998, more than $150 million in state funding has been awarded to municipalities, nonprofit land conservation organizations, and water companies to assist in the purchase of more than 41,200 acres of land in order to protect natural resources and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors alike, according to DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes.

"Open space preservation and access to open space is fundamentally important to our well-being," Dykes said. "It is critical in our fight against climate change, protects wildlife habitat, and provides recreational opportunities that benefit us physically and mentally, and supports our economy by helping to attract and retain residents who are increasingly looking for opportunities to be in nature."