Environmental officials in Connecticut are trying to preserve 21 percent of the state's land as open space in the next eight years. So far, the state is making ample progress toward the goal.
The 21 percent figure accounts for about 675,000 acres of land the state wants to set aside by 2023, from spaces like forests, open fields, old farms, and wetland habitats.
So far, Connecticut has set aside about 500,000 acres. That means we're about 75 percent of the way toward the 2023 goal.
The latest round of spots added to the "open space" list encompasses plots in 17 communities preserved with about $6 million in state money. Among the grants are $1.5 million for the town of Woodbury and $650,000 for the Connecticut Farmland Trust to purchase two plots in Vernon.
Other awardees include Burlington, Darien, the East Haddam Land Trust, and the town of Hamden.
Money will be used to buy the land and all agreements will feature conservation easements, which means the property won't be open to future development.
