Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

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01/08/2019

DEEP Announces $3,173,530.50 in Trail Grants

Nineteen Projects Across State

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that it has awarded $3,173,530.50 in grants for nineteen projects to plan and design, build, expand, or enhance and improve multi-use trails and greenways across the state.
“Through our Recreational Trails program we are providing funds that will provide safe recreational opportunities for families and friends to travel throughout the state.  Whether biking or walking any time of year or snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter, Connecticut offers attractive year-round opportunities for people of all ages,” said DEEP Commissioner Rob Klee.  “We applaud Governor Malloy and members of the General Assembly for making these funds available and allowing us to continue improving and connecting the many tremendous trail and greenway networks in our state.”
$3 million was allocated at the end of July by the state bond commission.  Turned back funds from previous grant years provided the additional $173,530.50 to allow funding awards for most of the highly ranked proposals.  The Connecticut Greenways Council serves as an advisory committee to DEEP for grant selection.  DEEP received 73 applicants.  This round was very competitive with 3 million dollars to distribute, there were over 12 million in requests.  Requests from the highly ranked proposals alone totaled over 4 million dollars.
Funds received through this program may be used for locally supported trails and trail systems, bikeways and multiuse paths.  Grant money can be allocated for a wide variety of purposes, including planning, design, land acquisition, construction, construction administration, and publications for bikeways, walkways, and greenways as well as for equipment and trail amenities, such as parking lots, toilet buildings, signs, and benches.
DEEP envisions most projects being completed by spring 2021.
Following is a list of projects receiving grants under DEEP’s Recreational Trails Grant program.
Applicant Project Title Description Award
Ansonia Naugatuck River Greenway Routing Study  Study for remaining gap in NRG $39,000.00
Colchester  Cemetery Rd - Church St. Connection Trail  Construction of a link between the Goodwin Trail and the Air Line SPT $47,776.00 
CT Audubon & Pomfret  Air Line State Park Trail Enhancements NE CT  Preparation of construction documents for an ADA shelter, restroom, and interpretive exhibit observation deck.  $53,491.00
CT Forest & Park Assoc.  Blue Blazed Hiking Trail system maintenance & CT Trails Day  Maintenance and restoration of our BBHT system in addition to management of CT Trails Day.  $295,500.00 
CT RC&D  Air Line State Park Trail 12 Town Task Force Master Plan to include resource inventory wayfinding, economic opportunities, bike to work assessment, increase safe routes to schools, maintenance plan.  $188,522.00
Goodwin College Phase 4 River Trail  Extension of the newly designated South Meadows State Greenway multi-user trail.   $272,320.00
Hebron   Hebron Center-Air Line State Park Trail Connector   Connector trail will include boardwalk, a  bridge and a 12 car parking lot   $228,320.00
Killingly  Quinebaug River Trail Section 6  Planning and Design request for to extend this highly used trail.  $130,000.00
Manchester  Cheney Rail Trail Extension  Construction of a gap in this trail system which is part of the East Coast Greenway  $162,452.00
Monroe Housatonic Valley River Trail Planning and design funding for sections 2 & 3.  DOT's LOTCIP money is being used for 100% of the construction. $220,000.00
New Hartford New Hartford Multi-Use Trail Planning, design and outreach for a 5 mile E-W connector to Barkhamsted to establish a link to the Farmington River Trail $120,000.00
New London  Multi-use Trail Completion of the waterfront multi-use pathway. $265,000.00
New Milford Planning New Milford River Trail- Phase 1 Design of a 2.5 mile extension of the multipurpose New Milford River Trail. $180,500.00
Putnam-NECCOG Air Line Trail Gap Connection Analysis Develop a shovel ready plan to complete the Air Line State Park Trail connection to the Putnam River Trail and the YMCA/Technology Park system. $64,200.00
Redding - NRVT Norwalk River Valley Trail - Redding Mile First section to be constructed in Redding.  The design for the trail is complete and was paid for via private community donations.  NE Greenway connection and Route 7 Bikeway. $300,000.00
South Windsor  South Windsor Crosstown Trail Design Design for a 6.2 mile multi-purpose off-road trail along the Eversource power lines corridor $100,000.00
Stamford  Merritt Parkway first mile  Design and cost estimates for construction of the first mile of this section of the East Coast Greenway in Stamford. $160,000.00
Thomaston  Naugatuck River Greenway Planning and design of an additional section of the NRG in Thomaston. $140,400.00
UConn Extension  CT Trail Census  Statewide volunteer-based data collection and education program implemented as a pilot from 2016-2018 on 16 multi-use (bicycle, pedestrian, equestrian) trail sites across the state.  $206,049.50
  
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