$10.5 Million Awarded Through Connecticut’s Recreational Trails Grant Program
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced the award of approximately $10.5 million in grants supporting 50 projects that will plan, build, expand, restore, and improve multi-use trails across Connecticut. Investments will enhance outdoor recreation opportunities, strengthen connections between communities, improve public health, and support Connecticut’s growing outdoor recreation economy.
The grants are being released through the Connecticut Recreational Trails Grant Program following a competitive review process conducted by DEEP in partnership with the Connecticut Greenways Council. The funding for the program was previously allocated by the State Bond Commission.
This year’s awards support a wide variety of projects, including new trail construction, trail rehabilitation, bridge replacements, accessibility improvements, trailhead and parking enhancements, planning and design efforts, and long-term maintenance of Connecticut’s statewide trail network. All projects enhance or expand public access to trails.
“Connecticut’s extensive trail network is one of our state’s greatest outdoor assets,” Governor Lamont said. “These investments will improve access to the outdoors, strengthen local economies, attract visitors, encourage healthy lifestyles, and help connect people to the communities where they live and work. I’m proud that we’re continuing to invest in projects that will benefit residents and visitors for generations to come.”
“Trails connect people with nature, strengthen communities, and provide opportunities for recreation, active transportation, and healthy living,” DEEP Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino said. “Whether someone is hiking, bicycling, paddling, horseback riding, or simply enjoying time outdoors, these projects will improve access to safe, high-quality recreational experiences across Connecticut. We are grateful to Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for their continued commitment to investing in our statewide trail system and expanding opportunities for residents and visitors alike.”
Since its creation, the Connecticut Recreational Trails Grant Program has helped communities, land trusts, nonprofit organizations, and state agencies expand and improve Connecticut’s trail system. These investments strengthen recreational opportunities, promote environmental stewardship, encourage active transportation, and improve quality of life for residents and visitors throughout the state. Together with Connecticut’s state parks, forests, greenways, and recreational trails, these investments continue building a connected statewide network which supports recreation, conservation, tourism, and alternative transportation while improving residents’ quality of life.
Twenty-five of the fifty awarded projects occur within, or serve, Connecticut’s distressed municipalities and environmental justice communities, which will improve equitable access to outdoor recreation.
Connecticut’s trail network continues to experience record use. According to the Connecticut Trail Census, managed by the UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), more than 2.7 million trail users were recorded at 27 monitored locations statewide during 2025. Connecticut’s outdoor recreation economy also continues to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, outdoor recreation contributes approximately $6 billion annually to Connecticut’s economy, supports more than 50,000 jobs, and generates approximately $2.8 billion in wages and salaries.
The following table contains the list of projects receiving grants under this round of DEEP’s Connecticut Recreational Trails Grant Program:
