More than 14 miles along the banks of the Yantic River from Lebanon to Bozrah to Franklin to Norwich will officially be designated as the state's newest greenway at ceremonies later this month.

"This helps put the resource on the map," James Vincent, vice president of the Norwich Community Development Corp., said Wednesday, after learning that the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection had accepted the nomination of the Yantic Greenway.

Vincent and Peter Davis, director of planning and neighborhood services for Norwich, spearheaded the effort to put the application together and enlist the support of the four towns along the 14.2-mile corridor. Vincent said that since there was already several open space parcels along the banks of the Yantic, it made sense to seek the greenway designation to help identify and enhance the resource.

The ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. on May 31 at the Chelsea Harbor Marina along the Shetucket River Greenway, which won the designation last year. Currently, there are more than 65 greenways around the state.

The program began in 2001 to recognize open space corridors that protect natural resources, preserve scenic landscapes and historical resources or offer opportunities for recreation such as hiking, biking and fishing. The program seeks to create links between protected areas and can be located along a waterway, historic areas, villages or unused rights-of-way.

In addition to the Shetucket Greenway, other southeastern Connecticut Greenways include the Lower Connecticut River Greenway in Haddam, Chester, Deep River, Essex, Lyme, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook; the Eightmile River Greenway in East Haddam, Salem and Lyme; the Old Lyme Greenway; and the New London Waterfront Walkway/Bikeway.

Vincent said future plans are to find areas where existing open space and public trail areas can be connected, including possibly establishing links between the Yantic Greenway and the Shetucket River Greenway, the Heritage Walk Trail in downtown Norwich, The Airline Trail Spur in Colchester and the proposed Tri-town Trail through Preston, Ledyard and Groton.

"The Yantic River is one of the greatest places to go fishing in Connecticut," Vincent said. "This puts it on a statewide map, and helps tell people about our assets."

j.benson@theday.com