The Madison Land Conservation Trust (MLCT)’s efforts to preserve open space in town just received a major boost thanks to a $715,000 grant from the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program, administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). With these funds in hand, the MLCT can now confidently move forward with the purchase of two parcels, totaling 64 acres, in North Madison.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced the grant Nov. 15 as part of a total of $4.7 million awarded to support 17 communities in the purchase of 1,170 acres of open space.

According to pa press release from Malloy, the grants are designed to help the state achieve its goal of protecting 21 percent of the land by 2023. In Madison, the grant money will be used to aid in the acquisition of two undeveloped parcels owned by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (CCRWA).

The land is located in North Madison near the intersection of Summer Hill Road and Route 80. The two parcels connect with other open space plots, including the 77-acre Summer Hill property the MLCT acquired in 2011. The MLCT protects approximately 1,700 acres across town.

MLCT Vice President of Finance Fillmore McPherson said the trust had applied for this grant last year and has been looking at these two properties for a while.

“For a number of years now they [CCRWA] have been looking at the properties they own, and they own a lot of property all over the place, and deciding that they don’t really need these particular pieces of property to protect the water resources,” he said. “CCRWA decided these two pieces of property were not really necessary to protect Hammonasset Lake.”

The cost for the two properties is $1,195,000 according to McPherson. He said the trust is planning to close by the end of the year and will owe half of the total price at the close.

“The balance of it needs to be paid over 10 annual and equal installments, but the first five years of that are interest free, so it is very good terms,” he said. “We feel that, thanks to this very nice grant, we will have no problem coming up with the balance.”

McPherson said the trust is very pleased with the size of the grant.

“We were eagerly awaiting the information as to what we would get because we didn’t know how much we would get,” he said. “We are very pleased that we got it and that it is $715,000. We got the biggest chunk of money and we are very happy about that.”

In a press release, Malloy stated, “Connecticut’s tradition of preserving open space began in the early 1900s and continues today with a focus on land preservation that protects important natural resources and ensuring that our state maintains its natural beauty. Through these grants, we will increase the availability of open space to provide our residents with protected lands to enjoy for outdoor recreation all across our state.”

While acquiring the two parcels individually is important to support open space, McPherson said due to the location of the parcels, which abut current open space, there will be a sizeable greenbelt in the area. Once the purchase is completed, McPherson said he expects MLCT will extend hiking trails into the new land.

“I am sure there will be hiking trails through the area because this is meant for the enjoyment of all people,” he said.