The Board of Finance has approved an appropriation of $366,000 for a state grant that will pay for the construction of sidewalks in Saybrook Point, including the former Dock and Dine property and Gardiners Park.

According to First Selectmen Carl Fortuna, “The grant will pay for a sidewalk from Mini golf all the way to the tip of Gardiners Park and curving around back towards Monument Park. There will also be improvements to Gardiners Park aesthetics.”

The town initially applied for the grant in 2023 but was denied. However, the town was still determined to find ways to improve the area.

“We went back to the drawing board, spoke with the state, and found out where our application was lacking,” Fortuna said. “Essentially, the state wants these dollars to pay for construction, not planning or engineering, so we stripped out those parts this year and received the grant.”

Fortuna said the work should start either later this year or next year. Other improvements are on the way for the area in the form of seawall replacement that the town will pay for with American Rescue Plan Act Funding.

Redeveloping the Saybrook Point area property has been a goal for close to 15 years. The site once hosted the popular Dock and Dine restaurant until the double whammy of Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012 rendered the restaurant inoperable. The property has remained vacant despite on-and-off interest in redeveloping the area over the last decade.

Fortuna said the longer goal is still to see the area, including the former restaurant property, redeveloped.

“The vision is obviously to improve this area, including future development of the Dock and Dine property by the current owner or a new owner and have a sidewalk and walking access that runs along the river all the way to Fenwick. This area is one of the most beautiful opportunities in Connecticut for public access to the waterfront and we need to show it off,” Fortuna said.