CT DEEP Trail and National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Grants
The Town of Montville has been awarded a CT Recreational Trails Program Grant for the planning and conceptual design of the Oxoboxo Heritage Multi-Use Path & Thames River Blueway. This project is a cornerstone of the town’s broader strategy to revitalize the Uncasville core, anchoring community life around the Town Hall and Senior Center while overcoming the challenges posed by Route 32 and its intersection with Route 163. Building on recommendations from the Revive and Renew Route 163 / 32 Strategic Investment Plan (a CIF Round 5 grant award), this initiative helps establish a Town Center hub and primary trailhead.
Project Components & Connectivity
- The Oxoboxo Trail Junction: Picker's Pond will function as a vital trail junction traversing Oxoboxo Brook, forming the nexus between east-west and north-south trail networks.
- The Thames River Blueway: This initiative expands upon the recently renovated municipal boat launch and new fishing pier, aiming to establish a unique regional recreation amenity for paddle sports and niche user groups that draws visitors to Montville.
- Cultural Heritage & Interpretation: The ‘to be identified’ narrative of the corridor is deeply rooted in the natural and industrial history of Oxoboxo Brook—shaped by historical dams, mills, and, heritage of the Mohegan Tribe.
In May 2026, Montville applied for a Long Island Sound Futures Fund grant. If awarded—with notification anticipated in mid-November—these funds will support ecological assessments of Oxoboxo Brook, water quality enhancement, scenic public access points, and the ecological restoration of the Picker's Pond area.
Information regarding these grants are provided below. A link to a recently completed streetscape plan is also provided for context.
More details on the Revive and Renew Plan can be found here.
CT Trails Grant Application - Oxoboxo Heritage Multi-Use Path & Thames River Blueway
NWFW Grant Application - Long Island Sound Futures Fund 2026