Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday announced Pennsylvania will receive $1.37 million from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund for local park, outdoor recreation and conservation projects.

“These funds will be awarded through DCNR as part of our grant program that helps local communities plan, acquire and develop parks and trails and conserve natural areas,” Corbett said. “Providing opportunities for close-to-home recreation is important to communities, to attracting businesses and workforce retention, and to the health of our citizens.”

Since 1965, Pennsylvania has received almost $165 million in LWCF funds.  LWCF dollars require a 50:50 match, and help municipalities leverage additional funds to acquire park land and improve recreational amenities.

More than 1,500 local parks in Pennsylvania have received support through the fund.

Recent projects in Pennsylvania supported by LWCF are:

-- Altoona City, Blair County: A $318,500 grant is leveraging 2.5 times that amount for the development of the Juniata Memorial Park, including the construction of a spray park and shade structures, and play equipment with required safety surfacing; and

-- York City, York County: A $300,000 grant to develop Penn Park to include playground equipment; a splash pad; rain garden; and pedestrian walkways.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund was established by Congress in 1964 to ensure access to outdoor recreation resources for present and future generations, and to provide money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land, water and wetlands for the benefit of all Americans. The primary source of revenue for the Land and Water Conservation Fund is from federal oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. 

In Pennsylvania, the LWCF also helped to acquire and develop land for Pennsylvania's extensive state park system.

For more information, visit DCNR’s Apply For Grants webpage.

7/14/2014