State awards grants to preserve over 450 acres of open space in region

Three land conservation groups will receive state open space grants to acquire and preserve large tracts of land in Norwich, Ledyard, Groton and Old Lyme, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday.Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc., was awarded two grants, $442,500 toward its planned purchase of the 101-acre former Benson Christmas tree farm in Norwich and $409,500 toward its purchase of 223 acres on Stoddard's Wharf Road in Ledyard.The Groton Open Space Association received a $321,000 grant for the 89-acre Center Groton Preserve on North Road, which it already purchased. The Old Lyme Land Trust was awarded $248,300 to help acquire a 42-acre parcel on Four Mile River Road.Lamont announced Wednesday $14.5 million in grants to help 17 entities purchase 2,626 acres of open space land in 18 municipalities. "Connecticut is the fourth most densely populated state in the country," Lamont said at a news conference Wednesday in Windsor, "and it is critical that we set aside some of the gorgeous natural resources we have in the state and protect it as open space in perpetuity for everyone to enjoy for generations."The grant awards require some portion of matching amounts.Benson Christmas tree farm to be preservedAvalonia Land Conservancy President Dennis Main said he was pleased that Avalonia received the highest percentage grant awards, 75%, for the Norwich and 65% for the Ledyard properties.The former tree farm in Norwich is "one lot away" from the 443-acre Browning family property where Avalonia has a conservation easement.The land, comprising four parcels at 282, 292, 300 and 318R Old Canterbury Turnpike, now consists of forest, with overgrown Christmas trees, open meadow and a network of gravel roads traversing the property. The varied topography and features provide key habitats for wildlife and plants.About 20 acres of the former tree farm is relatively level, providing the opportunity for eventual installation of trails that would meet formal accessibility standards, said Elanah Sherman of Norwich, an Avalonia board member."I can't overestimate the importance of this grant award going to a designated distressed municipality," Sherman said. "Municipalities like Norwich have been ignored by the open space movement for a long time. To its credit, DEEP now gives extra points in its open space land acquisition application to proposals for purchase in these municipalities."Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom said the Avalonia preservation plan will balance open space with the city's plan to develop the Occum Industrial Center on 384 acres just west of the former tree farm. The city's Fairview Reservoir open space property is just south of the industrial center."You have two areas of preserved land with developed land in between to provide tax relief, which we desperately need," Nystrom said.GOSA working to open preserve to publicThe Groton Open Space Association already has purchased the 89-acre Center Groton Preserve on North Road. The preserve will offer hiking and biking along walking trails and cross-country skiing in winter.Joan Smith, vice president of GOSA and chair of its acquisition committee, said the 89-acre property has extensive wetlands that protect the Ledyard Reservoir watershed. The property features wildlife habitat, ledge, streams and vernal pools, and Native American and Colonial-era stonework."It's a wonderful property," she said.The property, purchased at the end of 2023 for $445,000, is contiguous to the 305-acre Avery Farm Nature Preserve and 91-acre Candlewood Ridge and contributes to a long-distance trail system, Smith said. The $321,000 state grant will help contribute to the association's $530,000 fundraising goal for the property, including the purchase, related costs and future management costs.GOSA is getting the new property ready for public use, including improving trails and possibly adding new trail from the Phillips Avenue entrance, she added.Old Lyme land acquisition was a priorityThe Old Lyme Land Trust called the purchase of the 42.43 acres at 188 Four Mile River Road a priority acquisition for developing a town-wide greenway and hiking trail system. The land is near other significant greenway properties, including the 215-acre Lay-Allen Preserve, 312-acre McCulloch Family Open Space and the 157-acre Upper Three Mile River Preserve.Trout fishing spots at new Ledyard acquisitionIn Ledyard, Avalonia plans to purchase the Rowley property at 48 Stoddards Wharf Road. The property has significant wetlands and is traversed by Billings Avery Brook, which supports trout and could be open for public fishing. The property abuts the 101-acre Avery Preserve, 5.36 acres of town-owned open space and 144.1 acres of Groton Utilities land."This open space will provide passive recreation opportunities including hiking, mountain biking, equestrian and bird watching opportunities during the warmer months, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter months," the governor's office news release stated.Day Staff Writer Kimberly Drelich contributed to this report.c.bessette@theday.comk.drelich@theday.comEditor's note: This version corrects the addresses on the Norwich properties and the percent of the grant to the purchase price in the Ledyard property.