The Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Initiative, administered by the PA Environmental Council, Tuesday awarded 10 grants totaling $60,000 to support recreation and education projects in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties.

Funding is provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Funding was approved for these projects--

-- Countryside Conservancy: $10,000 to build 2.6 miles of single track trails on the 82-acre Gardner Preserve adjacent to Lackawanna State Park.

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy: $9,050 to support the Women and Their Woods educational initiative coordinated by the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and its partners to create a network of landowners and natural resources professionals working together to connect with and care for private forest lands.

-- Downtown Hawley Partnership: $7,500 to complete the Hawley Trail extension connecting the Wayne County Historical Society Lock 31 trail to the Hawley Borough’s existing trails at Riverside park with a comprehensive trail guide and trail side signage.      

-- East Penn Twp./Park Commission: $7,400 to enhance Riverview Parks new primitive camping area with a well, hand pump, and steps between the camp and the well at the D&L Trailhead.

-- Greater Carbondale YMCA:  $10,000 to develop a family-oriented 3.5-acre wellness park with an ADA accessible trail loop, seating, natural playground, splash pad, pavilion, and sports fields.

-- Lacawac Sanctuary: $2,250 to create Get Outside, Get Healthy! Guidebooks with trail, map, and facility information about nature-based activities for health and wellness on Pike and Wayne County public lands.

-- Penn Kidder/Jim Thorpe ASD: $2,800 to establish a garden to teach the school community about natural resources; develop a sense of stewardship in students; and to make the garden an integral aspect of the science curriculum.

-- West End Park Open Space Commission: $5,000 to develop 900 linear feet of an all-inclusive, shared use connector trail at West End Regional Park.

-- Wildlands Conservancy: $3,000 for boardwalk/trail construction at the Maple/Haase Preserve to provide/enhance access to greenway/trail network connecting over 1000 acres of Fern Ridge Bog openspace.

-- Wilkes University: $3,000 for a 4-day Environmental Science Camp utilizing 2 parks, a trail and University facilities to educate students on soil, air, and water quality/quantity issues.

Visit the Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Initiative webpage or directed questions to Janet Sweeney, PEC Pocono Forests and Waters Coordinator, at 570-718-6507 or send email to: jsweeney@pecpa.org.

Click Here for more information on DCNR’s other Conservation Landscapes Initiatives.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook.  Visit PEC’s Audio Room for the latest podcasts.  Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.

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[Posted: May 29, 2018]

6/4/2018