Senator Cohen Welcomes More Than $1.1 Million to Protect Open Space in North Branford and Durham

Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) today welcomed two state grants totaling more than $1.1 million to permanently protect more than 100 acres of open space in North Branford and Durham, preserving critical natural corridors, drinking water supplies, and public recreational access across the district.

In North Branford, a $611,000 grant will support the purchase of the former Amatrudo Farm property on Middletown Avenue by the Trust for Public Land and the North Branford Land Conservation Trust. The 25-acre parcel sits near the Farm River headwaters, adjacent to Ceccarelli Farm, which is already protected through the state’s Farmland Preservation Program. The Farm River feeds into Lake Saltonstall, a public water source for the South-Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. Once protected, the property will open public access for kayaking, hiking, birding, and fishing.

In Durham, a $520,000 grant will support the permanent protection of two forested parcels totaling 80 acres along the Mattabesett section of the New England Scenic Trail, at the base of Pistapaug Mountain in the Parmalee Brook Valley. The Trust for Public Land and the Middlesex Land Trust will work with the National Park Service and the Connecticut Forest and Park Association to re-route the trail off the road, improving safety and the hiker experience. The parcels protect nearly three-quarters of a mile of the trail and strengthen a wildlife corridor stretching from Long Island Sound to New Hampshire.

“The 12th District is home to some of Connecticut’s most treasured natural landscapes, and this funding helps ensure they stay that way,” Senator Cohen said. “Protecting the Farm River watershed means protecting the drinking water supply for communities across south-central Connecticut, the habitat that sustains native species, and the open land that has made North Branford such a special place to live for generations. The work along the New England Scenic Trail in Durham will permanently safeguard 80 acres of forest and wetland in the heart of our district, and improve the hiking experience for the thousands of people who use that trail each year. I am proud of what we are preserving here and grateful to the governor’s administration for making it a reality.”

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

Both grants were awarded through the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program, administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The awards are part of a broader $9.4 million announcement today covering 14 properties across 15 communities statewide.