Stamford Awarded $48K To Create Pollinator Habitat And Outdoor Classroom At Elementary School

STAMFORD, CT — A Stamford project aimed at creating a pollinator habitat, native food forest and outdoor classroom at Hart Elementary School is among 15 urban green and community garden initiatives receiving state funding, Gov. Ned Lamont announced.

The Mill River Collaborative was awarded a $48,000 grant through the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The funding will support the Pollinator Outdoor Classroom project at Hart Elementary School, where a portion of the school's rear lot was recently reconstructed into a public greenway corridor as part of a city transportation infrastructure project. According to the project description, while the corridor improved public access, funding was not available for additional planting or use of the remaining space.

The Mill River Collaborative, in partnership with Hart Elementary School, plans to convert the unused area into a pollinator habitat, native food forest and outdoor classroom. Students and volunteers will help plant and maintain the site, creating different food-growing zones. Plans also include benches, trails and future public events. The area will be open for public use outside of school hours.

The Stamford project is part of a statewide package of grants announced by Lamont that includes $9.4 million to support the purchase and protection of more than 1,243 acres of open space through 14 properties in 15 communities, as well as $2.4 million for improvements to 15 urban green and community garden spaces.

"Open space provides benefits to residents across Connecticut and makes our state a great place to live," Lamont said in a news release. "These community assets provide free recreational opportunities and connect our residents to all the health benefits that come from spending time outdoors."

State officials said recent statutory changes have expanded access to both grant programs.

Among the changes, underserved communities are now eligible for reimbursement of incidental land conservation costs through the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program, while Environmental Justice Communities and nonprofit organizations have become eligible applicants under the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program.

According to the state, those changes have led to increased participation and demand. The Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program received the highest number of applications since it was established in 2007.

"The Lamont administration, our partners in the state legislature, and land conservation stakeholders remain focused and committed to protecting open space and realizing the recreational and environmental benefits it provides as we continue to work toward Connecticut’s open space goal," DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said in a news release.

"DEEP is proud of the recent statutory changes made in conjunction with advocates and the state legislature that have increased access and equity in these two programs. DEEP is excited to work with all these wonderful partners to bring tangible benefits to more communities across Connecticut."

Since the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program began in 1998, more than $199.6 million in Community Investment Act and state bond funding has been awarded to municipalities, nonprofit land conservation organizations and water companies to help purchase more than 49,000 acres of publicly accessible land.

Since 2019, nearly $66 million has been awarded through the program to protect almost 14,000 acres. During the same period, $4.4 million has been awarded through the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program for 36 projects, including $2.4 million for 15 projects in the current grant round.

The grants announced this week represent the 28th grant round under both programs.

Applications for the next round are now being accepted. Applications for Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition grants and appraisals are due Nov. 6, while appraisal review and Urban Green and Community Gardens grant applications are due Dec. 4.