Southbury Set To Get $253K From CT In $7.3M Open Space Funding Program

SOUTHBURY, CT — Of the $7.29 million in state funds set to be distributed to 17 communities to buy and protect open space, Southbury will get $253,500 for the Bothwell Farm.

The funding was announced by Gov. Ned Lamont Wednesday. His administration is "releasing" state funds to purchase and protect 1,013 acres of open space in 17 communities across the state.

According to the statement, the Bothwell Farm at 786 Reservoir Road and 443 Woodbury Road "has historic and cultural significance as a dairy farm in the early 1900s."

"It provides a rich mixture of habitats, such as upland forest, forested wetlands, surface perennial springs/seeps, meadows, a pond, and a stream, which support a variety of plant and wildlife species," according to the statement. "The Southbury Land Trust will clear trails and add boardwalks, if needed, to access a pollinator pathway, meadow, pond, and stream. The Southbury Land Trust will add a wildlife viewing platform on the northern side of the pond, a short and fairly level distance from the parking area, making it more accessible for visitors with disabilities."

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."