For Release: September 27, 1999

Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

PROVIDENCE - Governor Lincoln Almond announced today that the Department of Environmental Management has received 30 open space preservation grant requests totaling more than $5.5 million dollars. A total of $2 million dollars in open space matching grants will be awarded this year from the $15 million 1998 Greenways bond issue.

"The interest shown by the number of grant applicants underscores the value Rhode Islanders place on open space and recreation," said Almond. "The commitment to ensure open space throughout Rhode Island is certainly a combined state and local effort. Working together we can preserve our quality of life for many generations to come."

In addition, DEM has received 33 requests totaling more than $1.1 million for recreational trail grants financed by federal transportation funds. There is a total of $ 350,000 available in this round of funding. Trail grant and open space preservation grant awards will be announced October 23 at the Rhode Island Greenways Congress.

The open space preservation grants will be the first awarded from the 1998 Open Space Bond Fund. The recreational trail grants will be funded by the 1998 Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century. Local governments, land trusts and environmental organizations selected for the grants will provide matching funds to create bikeways, trails, river walkways and natural corridors through the two programs.