Glastonbury Gets $2M From State For Open Space Conservation

GLASTONBURY, CT — The town of Glastonbury will receive $2 million to buy land for conservation and open space after a state committee approved the funding on Thursday.

The town's "grant-in-aid" was approved during a state bond commission meeting. It will be used to buy land from The Metropolitan District (MDC) and turn it into open space for public use, according to that meeting's agenda.

Officials didn't specify where the land is, other than saying it's "in north Glastonbury."

"Open space, and especially farmland, is a trademark of the Glastonbury community," Rep. Jill Barry (D-Glastonbury) said in a statement. "This was always a top priority for me on the Town Council and I am thrilled to be continuing the work at the State level."

The acquisition comes a couple years after the town reached an $8 million agreement with MDC in October 2019 to buy 542 acres of land in the town's northeast corner (Keeney Street and Howe Road and to the west of Minnechaug Golf Course), the Hartford Courant reported.

Additionally, in 2020 Glastonbury residents approved a referendum that allocated $3 million into the town's reserve fund for open space preservation, Sen. Steve Cassano's (D-Manchester) office said in a news release.

"I'm grateful to Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for continuing their commitment to environmental preservation through this funding," Cassano said in a statement. "It's reassuring to know even more of Glastonbury's open spaces will be preserved and protected for us all to enjoy in years to come."