State Funding OK'd For Work At Belding Preserve In Vernon

STAFFORD, CT — Governor Ned Lamont said that the State Bond Commission has approved an allocation of $30 million that will be used for infrastructure repairs and refurbishment needed across the Connecticut State Parks system and its nature areas, including the Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon.

Lamont chairs the commission.

The funding supports the Restore CT State Parks initiative, which Lamont said is "an historic effort by the administration and the state legislature to address the backlog of needed repairs across Connecticut’s 110 state parks and 32 state forests."

Since 2022, the state has committed more than $70 million of American Rescue Plan Act and state bond funds to support "investment in outdoor recreation across Connecticut," the governor said.

"Our state parks and forests are a big part of our incredible quality of life in Connecticut," Lamont said. "These destinations are also well-loved, welcoming an estimated 17 million visitors annually. That’s more than four times the population of Connecticut.

"We're restoring our parks to ensure that residents and visitors now and into the future can have a wonderful outdoor recreation experience in Connecticut."

A bridge ramp replacement project at Vernon's Belding Wildlife Preserve has an estimated cost of $5,000.

The current bridge ramp lumber at Belding is being removed and replaced.

The Connecticut State Parks system is administered and maintained by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

"Thanks to the governor's and the legislature's historic commitment, we've already made significant progress addressing our backlog of repairs and refurbishment, completing dozens of projects with many more projects in process," DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said.