The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting applications for its 2016 round of Community Conservation Partnership Grants.  The deadline for applications is April 13.  (formal notice)

Grant assistance from the Department helps, communities and organizations in this Commonwealth plan, acquire and develop recreation, park and trail facilities, and conserve open space.

The DCNR administers the Community Conservation Partnerships Program which combines several State and Federal funding sources including the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, Environmental Stewardship Fund, Pennsylvania Recreation Trails Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

In 2016, the grant program encourages applications that advance local conservation and recreation vision and those that implement the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2014-2019.

DCNR’s programmatic structure, goals and priorities have been aligned with the findings and recommendations of Natural Connections.  They include--

-- Community Parks and Recreation: The planning and development of safe, clean, accessible and ready-to-use local parks for all is the overall priority for this program. Projects that address sustainability and rehabilitation of park and recreation facilities, specifically in regard to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and upgrades to small community playgrounds, are high priorities.

-- Land Conservation: Land conservation projects that protect critical habitat, forested watersheds, wetlands and riparian corridors are the overall priorities for this program. In addition, lands that create critical connections with other public lands and expand green space in urban areas also are important.

-- Partnerships: This program focuses on collaborative Statewide or regional recreation, conservation or heritage projects that: convene, educate or provide training; build capacity; undertake special purpose studies or implementation projects; and/or offer mini-grant programs that implement publically identified priorities.

-- Rivers Implementation: Projects that protect and enhance the conservation or recreational value of waterways in this Commonwealth are the focus of this program. Priority activities include those that: implement river conservation plan recommendations; enhance water trails; expand public access to waterways for recreation; or increase awareness of the system of waterways in this Commonwealth.

-- Trails and Greenways: Projects that close priority gaps in Statewide major greenways and regionally significant trails as well as projects that maintain and upgrade existing trails are the focus of this program.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Department's Grants Portal. No paper, faxed or e-mailed applications will be accepted.

Grant information, project guidance documents, program policies, applications and instructions are available on DCNR’s Apply For Grants webpage. For assistance with the Department's Grants Portal, contact the Department's Grants Customer Service Center at (800) 326-7734 or send email to: DCNR-Grants@pa.gov.

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