With funding assistance from DCNR, the Lancaster County Conservancy is awarding $72,125 in grants to six organizations that support the initiatives of the Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape.

The region encompasses the Susquehanna River and riverside lands in York and Lancaster counties. The projects support the efforts of the Susquehanna Riverlands to enhance public recreation facilities, downtown revitalization and environmental education.

Grants awarded this round are:

-- Borough of Columbia - $25,000 – Funding to determine the best uses and develop a maintenance/operation plan for the soon to be completed trail and park Services building at River Park. The grant also will provide funding for the purchase of furniture and interpretive displays.

-- Donegal Intermediate School - $5,000 – Third to sixth grade students will work with local artists to design and install a tile mosaic on the retaining wall in the East Donegal Riverfront Park.

-- Hellam Township - $4,825 - The Hellam Township Environmental Advisory Council is spearheading a project for the installation of a demonstration rain garden, rain barrels and native plant gardens for managing stormwater run-off in a cost-effective, beautiful and environmentally friendly way.

-- Lancaster Creative Factory – $14,800 - Artful Benches and a Natural Sculpture Program will be introduced along the Northwest River Trail. Working with students, artists, fabricators and volunteers, the Lancaster Creative Factory will create a set of artistic, functional and permanent benches to provide trail visitors with an aesthetically pleasing place to rest. Students will participate in shooting a video documenting the process.

-- The Marietta Community House - $2,500 – The organization will write and produce a self-guided walking tour in both printed (booklet) and digital (website) formats. The latter will be accessible anywhere by scanning a QR code.

-- York County Parks Foundation Charitable Trust - $20,000 – Highpoint Scenic Vista interpretive plan including signs and QR codes focusing on the natural, cultural and historic resources of the Lower Susquehanna region.

For more information, visit DCNR’s Susquehanna Riverlands Landscape Initiative webpage.

(Reprinted from the May 28 DCNR Resource newsletter. Click Here and go to the bottom of the page to sign up for your own copy.)

6/2/2014