The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week announced almost $5.5 million in grants to undertake 47 local and regional greenways, open space, community park and recreation projects in 30 counties across Pennsylvania under the Community Conservation Partnership Program.

Statewide, the grants will fund a variety of open space acquisition, greenways and community park and recreation projects, including:

· Acquisition of 18 tracts and the protection of 1,291 acres;

· Exploration of an Urban Audubon Center in Philadelphia;

· Development plans for six parks in Williamsport;

· Outreach to implement the Susquehanna Greenway Strategic Plan that covers 500 miles through 22 counties; and

· Development of a growth model for Pike and Wayne counties that will identify environmentally sensitive lands that are projected to be under future development pressures.

The largest tract of land affected - a 524 acre tract in Luzerne County - involves acquisition of the property along Route 309 in Ashley Borough and Hanover and Fairview townships for open space and land preservation.

The largest grants - $500,000 - went to Willistown Township in Chester County for acquisition of approximately 10 acres adjacent to West Chester Pike and Delchester Road for preservation of open space and natural areas for the Okehocking Preserve.

This round, DCNR received a total of 96 applications for projects requesting more than $17.7 million in grant assistance.

The Community Conservation Partnership Program grants are funded through DCNR by Growing Greener, Keystone '93 and federal funds.

A complete list of the grants is available online.

9/2/2005