Other grants in Western Massachusetts were awarded to Southwick, Southampton, Granby and Conway.
State Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard Sullivan announced the Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity program grants at a press conference Wednesday in Amherst.
AMHERST — Amherst, Northampton and Belchertown are among 13 communities chosen to receive state grants for land preservation, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan announced Wednesday.
The total grant package of $3 million will help protect 862 acres of farms, wetlands, forests and wildlife habitat and is part of the Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity program, Sullivan said at a press conference in the Town Room of Town Hall.
Other grants in Western Massachusetts were awarded to Southwick, Southampton, Granby and Conway.
Sullivan praised the Patrick administration for funding the program but also the communities and the land trusts that aided in the work. “You are our stake holders and driving force of this program,” he said in opening remarks.
Amherst received a $353,500 grant that allows the town to buy 20 acres on Bay Road owned by the Ricci family. Town Meeting last month authorized the Select Board to acquire the land and appropriated $505,000. Of that $151,500 will come from the Community Preservation Act Fund money. The town meeting appropriation, however, was contingent on the town receiving the state grant.
David Ziomek, Amherst’s director of conservation and development, praised the Ricci family for being patient while the town worked to put together the funding. The land has “spectacular views, it’s a wonderful wildlife habitat.” He said the town will put in a trail on the land that is near the Mount Holyoke Range.
Belchertown received a $340,000 grant to acquire an 88-acre parcel adjacent to the University of Massachusetts Cadwell Memorial Forest in the Mead’s Corner Conservation Area.
“I’m proud and happy for the grant,” said Leeanne Connolly, conservation administrator for the town. She called it “a very important parcel.”
Town meeting allocated $160,000 from Belchertown’s community preservation act funds for the $500,000 purchase, and Kestrel Land Trust has privately raised $20,000. The purchase was also contingent on obtaining the state grant.
Northampton received $326,400 to protect 80 acres in the Broad Brook/Fitzgerald Lake Greenway.
Southwick received $356,400 for three parcels totaling 134 acres for part of a farm owned by the Kellogg family since 1712.
Also, Southampton in fiscal 2014 will receive $225,720 to buy 26 acres of an old railroad that will connect to the Manhan Rail Trail in Easthampton.
Other Western Massachusetts grants were: Granby, $37,365 and Conway, $1,054.