Sep. 6-Existing parks and expanded parks in the Tri-County area will be the beneficiaries of nearly $1.4 million in state funding that was announced on Tuesday.
The 10 local grants are part of $90 million for more than 330 projects across Pennsylvania announced by Gov. Tom Wolf's office.
The $90 million grant round is the largest single investment in Pennsylvania recreation and conservation in agency history, surpassing the previous record of $70 million in 2021, according to Wolf's office.
"This grant round is historic, as it is the largest amount we ever issued to help protect and enhance our natural amenities throughout Pennsylvania," said Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
"Many of the projects being funded - improvements to local parks, trails, and river access - bring natural amenities closer to home, requiring less driving and expense to experience," Dunn said. "This $90 million investment will leverage more than $100 million in local, county and private investments, giving every state dollar more power for the public good."
Investments are being made in a variety of proposals, including 43 trail projects; protecting nearly 7,207 acres of open space; 20 projects for rivers conservation; planting 214 acres of streamside forest buffers including 47 that are multifunctional with the possibility of producing a harvestable profit for the landowner; and 141 projects to develop or rehabilitate recreation, park and conservation areas and facilities.
Here is where some of that money is going locally:
-Pottstown Borough, $85,200 for rehabilitation and further development of Chestnut Street Park and South Street Park. Work will include construction of pedestrian walkways and stormwater management measures; installation of play equipment with required safety surfacing; ADA access, landscaping and other related site improvements.
-East Coventry Township, $166,600: Further development of Tow Path Park. Work will include renovation of pedestrian walkways; construction of parking areas and stormwater management measures; installation of lighting; ADA access, and landscaping.
-Upper Pottsgrove Township, $72,400: Payment toward the acquisition of approximately two acres along Gilbertsville Road in Upper Pottsgrove Township, for passive recreation and environmental education.
-Royersford Borough, $172,500: Rehabilitation of Chestnut Street Park. Work will include construction of pedestrian walkways; installation of play equipment with required safety surfacing and fencing; ADA access, and landscaping.
-Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee: $100,000, Coordinate and fund the 2023 Pottstown Regional Park improvement mini-grant program.
-Trappe Borough, $369,500: Rehabilitation of Trappe Borough Hall Park. Work will include construction of stormwater management measures; installation of play equipment with required safety surfacing and nature play equipment; ADA access, landscaping
-West Vincent Township, $125,400: Payment toward the acquisition of approximately 2.5 acres for access to the French Creek for fishing and passive recreation
-Natural Lands Trust, Inc., $93,600: Further development of Bryn Coed Preserve, West Vincent Township. Work will include construction of a pedestrian walkway, observation area, parking area and stormwater management measures; ADA access, and landscaping.
-Pennsburg Borough, $70,000: Rehabilitation and further development of Pennsburg Borough Park. Work will include renovation of pedestrian walkways; construction of pavilion; installation of fitness equipment with required safety surfacing; ADA access, landscaping.
-Berks Nature, $128,100: Payment toward the acquisition of approximately 17 acres in Exeter Township for an addition to the Neversink Mountain Preserve.
Funding for the above grants comes from the Keystone Fund, which is generated from a portion of the realty transfer tax; the Environmental Stewardship Fund; the ATV/Snowmobile Fund generated through fees for licenses; and federal monies.
Wolf also announced an unprecedented additional 2022 fall grant round, which was made possible in part from appropriated funds in the 2022-23 budget. That same support also secured funding for the creation of three new state parks to be announced this fall.
"This special fall grant round was made possible thanks to the bipartisan investment in conservation and outdoor recreation we secured in the recent commonwealth budget," Wolf said. "These additional funds will help us support even more local park, trail, water quality, and landscape projects across Pennsylvania."
The special fall grant opportunity will highlight helping underserved communities, closing trail gaps, supporting an invigorated focus on the outdoor recreation sector, and planting trees along streams and in communities. The deadline to submit applications for the fall grant round is Oct. 27.
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