East Lyme Receives $505,250 In State Grants For Black Point Shoreline Repairs, Estuary Access

EAST LYME, CT — Two waterfront projects in East Lyme will receive a combined $505,250 in state grants to repair shoreline infrastructure at Black Point and improve public access to the Pattagansett Estuary, state Rep. Nick Menapace announced Thursday.

The funding comes from Connecticut's Historic Infrastructure Preservation and Protection grant program. The town submitted the applications on behalf of the Black Point Beach Club Association, according to Menapace, D-East Lyme.

The two projects have a combined budget of $1.037 million.

A $400,000 grant will support an $800,000 project to repair existing piers and stone groins along Black Point's eastern shoreline on Niantic Bay.

The work will address structural deterioration, pedestrian safety concerns and shoreline erosion, according to the release. The repairs, authorized by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, are intended to maintain structures that protect remaining pocket beaches and support fishing, boating, beach access and recreation.

A second grant of $105,250 will support a $237,000 project to improve access to the Pattagansett Estuary on the western side of Old Black Point Road.

The project will replace existing marsh access with a 4-foot-wide, 102-foot-long accessible pier, an 8-by-8-foot overlook and a 12-by-20-foot floating dock with an integrated 4-by-12-foot kayak launch.

The improvements are intended to provide access for kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing and crabbing, as well as birdwatching and environmental education.

The estuary project is designed to improve access to the tidal marsh while taking the surrounding environment into account, according to the release.

"East Lyme's shoreline is an important part of our community, our local environment and our quality of life," Menapace said. "These grants are an investment in protecting our waterfront infrastructure, preserving our coastal resources and making it easier and safer for people to enjoy the water."

Menapace also acknowledged the town and the Black Point Beach Club Association for advancing the projects.

"From maintaining the piers and groins that help protect Black Point's shoreline to creating new opportunities to explore the Pattagansett Estuary, these projects demonstrate the value of investing in our coastal communities," he said.