News
The Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) is excited to announce the second round of awards to land trusts from its Land and Easement Acquisition Grant Program (LEAP). These three grants, totaling $514,185, will lead to the permanent protection of 860.57 acres across the state. This significant investment accelerates land conservation, safeguards critical habitats, enhances biodiversity, and expands public access to nature.
Launched in 2025, LEAP was created to address a critical need identified by our member land trusts: securing new and matching funding for land and easement acquisitions. Funded through a generous grant from The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation, LEAP helps land trusts bridge funding gaps, leverage public and private investments, and ensure the timely completion of crucial conservation projects. The grant program is designed to ensure prompt action, as all awarded projects are required to close within 12 months or less.
Congratulations to the second cohort of CLCC’s LEAP Grantees:
Aspetuck Land Trust
Aspetuck Land Trust: Poindexter Preserve Expansion in Easton
The Aspetuck Land Trust received $59,850 to help acquire 3.57 acres that expands its popular Poindexter Preserve on Judd Road in Easton. This project builds on CLCC’s initial LEAP grant to Aspetuck for a 5.7-acre addition to the Preserve. It will create safe, off-street parking and a new central trailhead, addressing existing safety concerns with roadside parking. Ecologically, the property is a key asset in the Mill River’s headwaters, acting as a riparian buffer for Wicker Brook, a coldwater stream with a Class AA water quality designation. This expansion also contributes to an east-west wildlife migration corridor by connecting to other conserved lands. The parcel contains diverse habitats, including upland and wetland forests, shrubland, and old fields, which are potential habitats for rare bat species and the New England Cottontail. In addition to CLCC’s LEAP grant, the Aspetuck Land Trust received funding from the CT DEEP’s Open Space and Watershed Acquisition (OSWA) program.
Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land: Camp Laurel Acquisition in Lebanon
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) received $280,000 to help acquire the 350-acre former Girl Scout camp at 175 Clubhouse Road in Lebanon. The project’s main goal is to protect significant natural resources, including the headwaters of the Ten Mile River and Stiles Pond, both Class A water sources. The property contains a large core forest that connects to existing conserved lands and the Air Line State Park Trail. This acquisition will open the property to public access for passive recreation like hiking and swimming while allowing Girl Scouts to retain a smaller portion and continued access. TPL plans to acquire the property and then convey it to the Avalonia Land Conservancy. In addition to CLCC’s LEAP grant, TPL received funding from CT DEEP’s OSWA program and the Bafflin Foundation.
Winchester Land Trust
Winchester Land Trust: Laurel Ridge Acquisition in Winsted
The Winchester Land Trust (WLT) received $174,335 to help acquire the 507-acre Laurel Ridge property. This long, forested ridge provides pure water streams that flow into Highland Lake and the Still River, with the Still River eventually flowing into the National Wild & Scenic Farmington River. The property is nearly all core forest and supports abundant wildlife and plants, including documented rare species like the New England Sedge, Eastern Pondmussel, Bridle Shiner, and various endangered or threatened birds. The acquisition also provides significant community benefits by linking Highland Lake and the Sue Grossman Still River Greenway, offering extensive hiking trails and recreational opportunities for Winchester residents. In addition to CLCC’s LEAP grant, WLT received funding from CT DEEP’s OSWA program, the John T & Jane A Wiederhold Foundation, the Farmington River Coordinating Committee, the Northwest Community Bank Foundation, and the Highland Lake Watershed Association.
CLCC’s LEAP grant program is solving a critical need at a crucial moment for land trusts. “Connecticut’s public conservation funding, per capita, ranks near the bottom of any state in New England,” explains Amy Blaymore Paterson, CLCC’s Executive Director. “Moreover, land trusts generally don’t have a stockpile of cash for immediate acquisitions, and state and federal funding programs take years to complete.”
Recent cancellations of federal grants and cuts in funding have made it even more challenging for land trusts to secure funding fast and move at the speed of the real estate market. Amy adds, “With limited funding, many land trusts must walk away from irreplaceable opportunities to protect natural lands and waters in Connecticut and connect communities to the many benefits of nature.”
CLCC’s LEAP awards underscore its dedication to strengthening Connecticut’s land conservation community and ensuring the state’s natural beauty and ecological health are preserved for all.
Learn more about each Connecticut LEAP project by visiting CLCC’s StoryMap.
