Guilford Receives State Funds To Help Protect And Improve Open Spaces

GUILFORD, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont this week announced that his administration is awarding $14.3 million in state funding to aid in the purchase and protection of more than 2,270 acres of open space through 25 properties in 22 towns and cities across Connecticut. Additionally, $725,353 is being awarded to support the creation of six new community green spaces.

The Town of Guilford is the recipient of $412,750 for the Westwoods West project, and $1,592,500 for the East River Preserve West Side project.

The funds are being provided through the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program (OSWA) and the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program (UGCG), both of which are administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

"Open space is a big contributor to our great quality of life here in Connecticut, and we are excited to help all these communities improve access to the outdoors with these funds," Lamont said in a prepared statement. "These community assets help our residents stay active and healthy by providing free recreational opportunities while also helping to improve air and water quality. Open space makes Connecticut a great place to live, work, and play."

Located on Moose Hill Road, the Westwoods West project is sponsored by the Guilford Land Conservation Trust.

The acquisition will complement the hiking trails in the Westwoods Trail system.

At 33.46 acres, the mostly wooded property is on the northwest side of the 1,000-plus-acre Westwoods Forest (mostly GLCT-owned with a portion in Cockaponset State Forest).

The area is home to a mature upland oak-hickory forest, as well as an increasingly rare early successional habitat created by a powerline cut (the lines and structures were removed in 2022), according to an announcement from Lamont's office.

It contains boulder fields of Stony Creek granite and a small surface stream that is part of the watershed flowing into Lost Lake and then Long Island Sound.

The property hosts a range of imperiled flora and fauna and serves as a buffer for this rare core forest located along the I-95 corridor in New Haven County, an announcement said.

The East River Preserve – West Side, aims to safeguard a habitat-rich parcel located about a mile from downtown Guilford.

The land includes tidal and inland wetlands, a hayfield, and mature upland oak and hickory forest. It lies across the river from the town-owned 610-acre East River Preserve, adjacent to Eastwood Preserve, and upstream from both the Guilford Salt Meadows Audubon Sanctuary and the East River Marsh Wildlife Management Area.

"This acquisition is a critical step in protecting the health of the East River and the surrounding ecosystem," said First Selectman Matt Hoey in a prepared statement. "We are deeply grateful to Governor Lamont and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for this funding, which enhances public access to open space, safeguards fragile habitats, and supports passive recreation. This parcel will not only benefit local wildlife but also provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to enjoy nature close to the heart of Guilford."

Plans for the newly acquired land include a walking trail from Tanner Marsh Road along the river and hayfield, with scenic views of the East River.

The project will also improve access to the historic Smallpox burial ground, owned by the Madison Historical Society, and help maintain local water quality. Recreational uses such as kayaking and fishing are expected to be supported.

The initiative from the state contributes to Connecticut’s goal of conserving 21 percent of its land as open space.

As of December 2024, more than 77 percent of that target had been achieved, according to CT-DEEP.

Now in its 27th round of funding, the OSWA program provides grants to municipalities, nonprofit land trusts, and water companies.

Applications for the 28th round are open through Nov. 3, 2025.

More information about the state’s open space programs and application materials can be found here.