2 Major Hartford Preservation Projects Garner Significant Grant Funds

HARTFORD, CT — Two land preservation projects in Hartford are among the many in Connecticut benefiting from a $14.3 million funding package from the state for such uses.

Governor Ned Lamont announced the state funding package on July 15.

It will 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, according to a Lamont release.

The two projects in Hartford expected to benefit include:

• Marfuggi Riverwalk enhancements for the Riverfront Recapture organization in Hartford.

The organization is set to receive $517,519 to install trailside amenities, including plantings, signage, and benches associated with the construction of the Joe Marfuggi Riverwalk and Galleries in Hartford’s historic Riverside Park.

The Marfuggi Riverwalk will feature a 12-foot wide, paved multi-modal trail and four scenic overlooks at the river’s edge, connecting the main paved Riverwalk to an existing single-track trail running along the top of the riverbank.

The Riverwalk will extend 2.2 miles north through the floodplain forest on what is currently dirt trails or existing levee maintenance roads, and it will connect to Windsor Meadows State Park in Windsor.

• Hartford's Sterling Street Sanctuary for the Trust For Public Land.

The organization is slated to receive a total of $186,850 for 1.2 acres in north Hartford that is a designated federal Promise Zone, a neighborhood with the direst need for community investments.

"This property will be a community gathering space providing experiential education and opportunities for healthy integration, offer respite in a densely populated area, and serve as a foundation for culturally relevant education," wrote state officials in a release.

Through landscape design and ongoing planning, the sanctuary will promote an Afro-centric understanding through hands-on experiences and a tangible connection to a rich cultural heritage.

There is an existing gazebo for gathering, offering a "space for conversation, reflection, learning, and growth, and a labyrinth for self-guided or facilitated walks."

The space is leased by Kamora’s Cultural Corner out of Hartford.

Fund details

Additionally, $725,353 is being awarded to support the creation of six new community green spaces in the state

These 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 state 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. “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.”

For more information on the grants, click on this link.