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The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced it has been awarded a $494,650 grant from the Department of Interior’s Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to fund the construction of a recreational boat marina in the Town of Wethersfield. The marina will consist of seven transient (those staying 10 days or less) slips and 51 moorings designated for the use of transient recreational vessels. The grant was awarded through the USFWS Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program. The total cost of the projects is estimated to be $793,050 with the Town of Wethersfield providing $298,400.
“We are grateful to the Department of Interior for awarding us this grant and we look forward to working with the Town of Wethersfield as they build a marina that has long been sought by boaters,” said DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette. “Wethersfield Cove is a beautiful recreational area and allowing increased public access will be a benefit to nearby residents and visitors alike.”
“We are excited to get this grant because it will help us improve our boating facilities at Wethersfield Cove to give visitors a safe and comfortable facility for enjoying this coastal resource,” said Jeff Bridges, Wethersfield Town Manager. “It will also favorably impact the local economy through attracting tourists via transient boating.”
The proposed plan for the Wethersfield Cove Marina consists of seven dock side transient berths and 51 moorings designated for transient vessels using the sheltered harbor. Plans include Americans with Disabilities Act accessible walkways as well as recreational fishing opportunities.
The construction will transform the Wethersfield Municipal Marina into a full functional, comfortable and tranquil “safe harbor” destination for boaters. The design of the facilities has focused on creating a destination for day sailors and those using the Long Island Sound portion of the intercoastal waterway. Partners to the project besides DEEP include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan District Commission, Riverfront Recapture, Wethersfield Cove Yacht Club, and local environmental groups.
The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) provides grant funds to construct, renovate, and maintain tie-up facilities with features for transient boaters in vessels 26 feet or more in length, and to produce and distribute information and educational materials about the program. Funding for the BIG program comes from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, formerly known as the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, which boaters and manufacturers support through excise and other taxes on certain fishing and boating equipment and boat fuel.
Grant funds are competitively disbursed to states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands for approved grants up to 75% of the project costs.
Previously approved and completed BIG projects in the state include: Reynolds Garage & Marine, Lyme – 2 slips; City of New Haven – 3 moorings; City of New London – 15 moorings; City of Norwalk – 9 moorings, dinghy dock; Marina, New London – 4 slips; Chrisholm Marina, Chester – 6 slips; Oak Leaf Marina, Old Saybrook – upland bathhouse.
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We met David Finn (and Alicia) of Eaglewood Farms at the winter Wethersfield Farmer’s Market; he raised the beef and provided the bottom round roast for our New Year’s dinner. Since the Wethersfield market will return in the spring, we will look for him at the Billings Forge Farmer’s Market (Hartford); or at the indoor/heated Winter Farmers Market at Norfield Grange, Weston, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For some insight on the integrity involved in the work on his farm in Barkhampstead, Conn. – and why he believes in farmer markets, visit www.eaglewoodgourmetfood.com. A quote from the site: “We know all of the people involved in the processes for years, there are no middlemen. All are small business people of the highest integrity whom you can contact personally. Pure food for the body is the foundation for your healthy food list.”
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