ESSEX - It has been a 15-year-long struggle that, at times, came close to defeat. Now, for the coalition of citizens, environmental groups, land trusts, and local leaders, their persistence has brought success. Governor Dannel P. Malloy has announced a plan for the state to play a major role in purchasing and protecting The Preserve as open space. The plan will protect the 1,000-acre parcel, which is the last remaining large, unprotected coastal forest between New York and Boston. Seventy-one acres of The Preserve lie within Essex's borders.

"We will take action to make funds available for the state's participation in the purchase of the property and to address issues concerning joint ownership and stewardship of the land," said Malloy. "The permanent protection of The Preserve has long been a goal of the land conservation community across our state, and it's time to act to achieve this important goal."

The Preserve property is rich in natural resources, wildlife, and habitat areas and will offer hiking and other passive outdoor recreational opportunities. The Preserve, which also provides an important coastal buffer against storm waters, connects to 500 acres of existing parklands in adjoining towns and miles of hiking trails.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a leader in the effort to protect The Preserve, reached an agreement with the property's present owners River Sound Development, LLC, in July 2013 to purchase the property. Since that time, it has been working to secure funds needed to finalize the purchase, which is now set at $8.09 million.

"The Preserve is one of Connecticut's special places, and this support from the state will allow us to move forward and forever protect this land," said Alicia Sullivan, Connecticut state director of TPL. "Our mission is to protect land for people, and I can't think of a better example of protecting land for all the people who live in Connecticut and visit here."

Malloy said that under the agreement, the state would be an owner of The Preserve and intends to contribute $3.3 million toward its purchase and management, consisting of $1.4 million from federal funds for open space acquisition and $1.9 million for acquisition and management pending approval by the State Bond Commission. Additional funds for the purchase are expected from the Town of Old Saybrook, which is expected to consider a $3 million contribution, and from TPL, which will bring private funding in the range of $2 to $3 million for acquisition and management. Essex is also likely to consider a contribution.

"Old Saybrook is grateful for the state's support as we move forward to protect The Preserve. We now have a chance to put to rest once and for all the question of what will happen with The Preserve," said Old Saybrook First Selectman Carl P. Fortuna, Jr. "I look forward to launching a public process in Old Saybrook that will conclude with a referendum to approve the town's financial support for this important land acquisition."

State funding may increase through a grant to the Essex Land Trust, which has applied for matching funds for the acquisition and protection of 71 acres of The Preserve located within Essex. This application is pending under the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program administered by the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP). In addition, the Town of Westbrook is discussing options to facilitate the preservation and public use of The Preserve.

Governor Malloy said that he is asking the General Assembly to take action this session to authorize an agreement with TPL that will transfer a vast majority of The Preserve to the state and the Town of Old Saybrook for joint ownership and management of these critical lands. Other parties that strongly supported the purchase and protection of The Preserve include the Old Saybrook Land Trust, the Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound, The Alliance for Sound Area Planning, Audubon Connecticut, and The Nature Conservancy.

State Rep. Phil Miller (D-36) said, "Our efforts to preserve this unique and valuable property as open space has taken many years, and in addition to hundreds of citizens of Old Saybrook, Westbrook, and Essex, we have gained so many partners, especially the Trust for Public Land, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, and our local land trusts, and now, thanks to Governor Malloy, who is an accomplished conservationist, we have our state as the key partner in our coalition to make this happen. This is a great investment in the future. Miller has been an active and outspoken advocate for protecting The Preserve from development, including during the years he served as Essex first selectman.

The Preserve was the subject of development proposals dating back to 1998, including plans to build more than 200 homes and an 18-hole golf course. These plans met with strong opposition and lawsuits from conservation groups and residents. Miller, when he was first selectman, proposed hiring legal counsel to represent the town's interests and to join in the efforts to protect the property from development. It was a move that proved critically important to the preservation effort. Although only 71 acres of the property lies within Essex, development plans called for a major entrance to be developed off local Essex roads.