Malloy Visits Glastonbury to Announce $250,000 Open Space Grant

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy visited the Glastonbury Riverfront Community Center Thursday morning to announce $250,000 in STEAP grants that will help give the public greater access to four local open space areas.

“People know about Glastonbury’s schools,” Council Chairman Stewart “Chip” Beckett III said, “but they forget about how much we value our natural resources.”

The grant provides $250,000 to create public access and parking to the former Arbor Acroes, Grayledge, Minnechaug Farms and Slocum Mill properties; approximately 334 acres of Glastonbury open space.

“This $250,000 STEAP grant award will support Glastonbury’s ongoing initiative to provide public access to selected town open space areas totaling over 334 acres,” Town Manager Richard Johnson said. 

Malloy said that he admired Glastonbury’s progress in improving its open space and riverfront access.

“When we fund something, we try and fund it so work can begin on it,” Malloy said. During Malloy’s presentation, construction work on Phase II of the Glastonbury Riverfront Expansion Project, which also has benefited from state aid, could be heard across the field.

“This park and everything around it are going to be a showcase for the entire state when it's complete,” State Senator Steven Cassano said.

Johnson said that two of the projects funded by the grant were ready to begin work soon.

“Maybe tomorrow?” Malloy joked.

“Well, maybe not that fast,” Johnson laughed.  “More like next week.”