The PA Parks and Forests Foundation Tuesday announced it has received funding from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s 25 in 25 Grant Program for the removal of graffiti from unique geological features in our state parks and forests.

The funds will support a minimum of three stewardship days across the Commonwealth to remove graffiti from our state parks and forests.

Four events were held this spring and summer, where more than 35 volunteers gathered to lend a hand to clean up the graffiti on Hammonds Rocks, Michaux State Forest and Coves Rocks, Forbes State Forest. 

PPFF is planning more stewardship events for the fall, such as one at Beams Rocks in the Forbes State Forest.

“Graffiti is affecting our state parks and forests,” said Marci Mowery, President of PA Parks and Forests Foundation.  “When graffiti covers our public lands it often attracts other negative behavior, making the area unattractive and unsafe for visitors.  By cleaning up these lands we return them to more positive use for all outdoor enthusiasts.”

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful awarded twenty-five grants of up to $1,000 to tax exempt groups for community improvement projects in their three focus areas of Prevent It, Clean It, or Keep It.

The winning projects are representative of all the different ways we can individually and collectively improve our communities including planting natives, restoring habitats, park restoration, river and community cleanups, special event recycling and so many more.

“The KPB 25 in 25 Grant Program allows us to give back to the volunteers, communities and organizations that have contributed so much over the years to our shared mission of building clean and beautiful communities.” stated Shannon Reiter, President of Keep PA Beautiful.  “We are pleased to support the efforts of such a diverse group of environmental and community stewards as they work to make their communities clean and beautiful.”

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s 25 in 25 Grant Program is supported by the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation,  Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.

(Photo: PennLive.com, Schneck: Natural Landmarks Across PA Disappear In Flood Of Graffiti.)

9/26/2016