Tolland Green Grass Mat Program Recognized Statewide

TOLLAND, CT — The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities has named Tolland a recipient of its 2022 Municipal Excellence Award for an innovative program designed to offer accessibility to events otherwise tough to navigate for some residents.

The announcement was made at CCM's Annual Convention, which took place at Mohegan Sun on Nov. 1. It's the seventh year of the program and Groton, Trumbull and Norwalk also took home awards.

Towns and cities across the state are asked to submit projects they have completed over the past year they believe have "significantly improved the quality of life for their residents," according to program rules. Judges choose one winner in a general category where all projects are considered and a special topic category unique to this year. For 2022, the topical award was for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Tolland was honored (for towns with 20,000 populations and lower) for its Grass Mat project. Tolland has several events on the Town Green each year with the goal being "to provide accessibility for the entire Town Green," according to the award narrative. With input from residents, business owners, Department of Public Works staffers, the Celebration Commission, and the Disability Commission the town purchased and installed a product called Grass Mat.

The mats are designed to make it easier to for those with disabilities, baby and toddler strollers, small children in wagons, and others with challenges to get around the Town Green. Town officials said the project has also led to discussions about other areas in the town with accessibility needs.

"For seven years we have awarded towns and cities with our Municipal Excellence Awards, but I am never surprised by the ingenuity and thoughtfulness of our municipal leaders,” said Joe DeLong, Executive Director and CEO of CCM, "And this year's winners are no exceptions. The programs in these honored cities match our commitments to excellence, and I could not agree more with the judge’s decisions for this year's recipients."