State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) today cheered the approval by the State Bond Commission of a $5 million release in bonding for the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program, which will go to support a number of open space protection projects around the state. This funding is traditionally released to a variety of towns and organizations for the preservation and protection of open space and watershed land, helping to keep Connecticut’s natural beauty safe for generations to come. The funding was included on the agenda for the Bond Commission’s December 18 meeting.
“This bonding release will go a long way to keeping Connecticut the beautiful and natural home we all know it as,” said Sen. Needleman. “We owe it to ourselves to do whatever we can to protect our natural resources. I’m thankful to the Governor and the Bond Commission for taking this step and continuing the tradition of environmental consciousness Connecticut is known for.”
Among the many projects this OSWA grant could fund is that of a 55-acre wooded uplands acquisition by the Old Saybrook Land Trust. The parcel is next to town and state open space properties and if successful would become permanently protected as open space, adding greatly to the town’s woodland resources. Sen. Needleman recently addressed a letter to Governor Ned Lamont in support of the property acquisition project.