Gather New Haven​​ Scores State Grant To Enhance Gardens And Preserves

NEW HAVEN, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday announced the award of more than $15 million in state grants to preserve 2,270 acres of open space and create six new community green spaces in 22 towns and cities across Connecticut.

Scoring $92,975 of the grant money was Gather New Haven, which supports 45 community gardens and six nature preserves throughout New Haven, all accessible to the public. The new funding will be used to enhance and restore the functionality and appearance of ten gardens and two nature preserves by installing new planter boxes, native plantings, maintenance sheds, hoop houses, and low tunnels to extend the use of the gardens. Work will also include trail maintenance at the preserves and the replacement of an outmoded entry gate with one that is accessible to those with mobility challenges.

The funding includes $14.3 million through the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program (OSWA) and $725,353 through the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program (UGCG). Both programs 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.

According to state law, Connecticut has a goal of preserving 673,210 acres, or 21 percent of its land area, as open space. That includes 10 percent managed by DEEP and 11 percent held by partners such as municipalities, land trusts, and water utilities.

As of Dec. 31, 2024, DEEP reported it had preserved 263,969 acres toward its target and that partner organizations had conserved about 255,169 acres—bringing the statewide total to 519,138 acres, or about 77 percent of the overall goal.

“From large tracts of land to small pocket parks, this group of projects benefits a variety of communities across the state,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “DEEP is excited to see recent program changes bringing new communities and partners to the table.”

Since its launch in 1998, the state’s open space initiative has provided more than $190 million to assist in conserving over 48,000 acres of publicly accessible land.

Recent legislative and policy changes have expanded eligibility and access to both grant programs. These include allowing reimbursement of incidental land acquisition costs under OSWA, as well as broadening UGCG eligibility to include more municipalities and nonprofit organizations.

Ten of this year’s 31 grant recipients took advantage of these updates. DEEP has opened the application period for the next round of grants, with a submission deadline of Nov. 3, 2025.

Application materials and more information are available here.