A national organization that has helped protect over 4 million acres of land may have what Norwich needs to help with parks and open space around the city.
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) gave a presentation to the Norwich City Council on Monday. Norwich is interested in the organization’s help with multiple parks and open space projects in the city.
Projects the city wants to collaborate on include Jubilee Park, preserving the 101 acres of the former Benson Tree Farm, the Capehart Mill site, and securing National Park status for the Uncas Leap Heritage Park, Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom said.
Nystrom said that it helps that TPL is good at finding multiple funding sources and securing permitting.
“They clearly demonstrate, based on their discussion with us, an ability to work through a lot of red tape,” he said.
File photo of the falls at Uncas Leap Heritage Park. Norwich wants TPL to help it become a National Park, among other open space and park projects in the city.
About the Trust for Public Land
The national organization was founded in 1972 and aims to protect public land and create parks “as a matter of health, equity and justice,” the organization’s website states.
Over the years, the trust has created 5,420 parks, trails and other outdoor projects across the country, equaling 4 million acres, Project Manager Anna Lawler said.
Lawler said the reasons for doing this range from protecting water and the environment, to improving health, quality of life and improving local economies.
The local TPL responds to communities that want help with open space and park needs, but might not have capacity or expertise to get it done. A private nonprofit organization, TPL negotiates with property sellers, while taking on the risk in a quicker fashion than a municipality can. TPL becomes the principal in a transaction, seeking financing from federal, state and local sources and conducting “due diligence,” which includes conducting environmental assessments. TPL cooperates with the community every step of the way.
At the end of the process, TPL conveys the land rights to the final owner, whether it be a city or a land trust.
Where in Connecticut has the TPL worked
TPL is currently working on a 20-mile multiuse pathway for recreation and transportation along Bridgeport’s waterfront. When completed, the pathway will serve a third of the city, or 40,000 people, Senior Project Manager Cally Guasti said.
“We try to be there for the communities that need us the most,” she said.
Within that area of Bridgeport, there’s a plan for three acres called Sliver by the River. TPL has created a site plan that includes a kayak launch, a public amphitheater, and a salt marsh to reduce flooding. These plans were developed through collaborating with other entities, like UConn, and gathering public input, Guasti said.
A closer completed TPL project is Copps Brook in Stonington. The community wanted to protect a 230-acre property in Stonington as open space, and the seller wanted $1 million. While the town couldn’t entirely pay for it on its own, TPL helped and got funds from the Aquarion Water Company and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to pay for the remainder. The land is now in the hands of the Avalonia Land Conservancy, Lawler said.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich City Council mulls partnership with Trust for Public Land
