WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Thursday announced the National Park Service awarded the state of Connecticut a total of $6.9 million in federal grants to renovate recreation facilities and advance land conservation efforts. The grants are funded through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) and will provide $5 million for improvements to Cummings Park and West Beach in Stamford, and $1.9 million for Rockwell Park in Bristol.

“Public parks and beaches provide an important benefit to our communities because they’re places where everyone can have fun, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with their neighbors. This $6.9 million in federal funding will help upgrade Cummings Park and West Beach in Stamford, and Rockwell Park in Bristol, to ensure more families have the opportunity to take advantage of our state’s beaches, hiking trails, and green spaces,” said Murphy.

“This $6.9 million in federal funding will modernize and upgrade facilities at two of Connecticut’s beautiful, beloved parks – Cummings Park and West Beach, and Rockwell Park. Ensuring that Connecticut residents have access to top notch outdoor spaces is vital to their health and well-being. I will continue to fight for investments in Connecticut’s treasures and expanded access to outdoor recreation,” said Blumenthal.

The ORLP program provides matching grants to cities for park projects in underserved communities. These investments enable urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and the outdoors.

###