The Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape Initiative recently announced the award of $85,000 in mini-grants to 18 local recipients to advance the goals of land conservation, community revitalization and environmental education.

The grant recipients included--

-- Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, $10,000 to support Master Watershed Steward projects;

-- Friends of Johnston, Inc, $9,500 to complete a study and restoration plan for a bog on Archibald Johnston Preserve and begin removing invasive and replanting native plants;

-- Community Bike Works, $7,800 to provide outdoor education to urban students through trail bike rides, conservation careers leadership program;

-- Wildlands Conservancy, $6,000 to complete a riparian buffer gap analysis for Lehigh and Northampton counties;

-- Wildlands Conservancy, $5,000 to hire a consultant to develop and manufacture a map and interpretive sign for the Jordan Creek Greenway about the trail and conservation story;

-- City of Easton, $5,000 to build a bicycle playground in Hugh Moore Park for children 4+ years including a tunnel to ride through and natural winding dirt path;

-- City of Easton, $3,500 to create three native plant pollinator gardens in Hugh Moore Park to educate visitors and provide wildlife habitat;

-- Lehigh Carbon Community College, $5,000 to create three native plant, pollinator gardens on campus through the research and coordination of students, faculty, and volunteers;

-- Lehigh Gap Nature Center, $5,000 for field supplies and training a class of Color of Nature interns to lead bilingual environmental programs in urban parks;

-- Plainfield Township, Northampton County, $5,000 to create and adopt an Official Map and corresponding Ordinance to utilize Open Space EIT funds to protect high priority natural areas;

-- Nurture Nature Center, $4,800 to expand the nature journaling program by creating three “sit spots” in Easton and holding workshops for the public and educators;

-- Bushkill Township, Northampton County, $4,000 to construct matted swales and a rain garden along the parking area of the Ballas Tract;

-- Lafayette College, $3,400 to create a trail counter system for Karl Stirner Arts Trail with multiple trail counts and in-person surveying to increase data and support closing trail gaps;

-- Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority, $3,000 to create a trailhead visitors’ center in Slatington on weekends to promote trails, community programs, and local businesses;\

-- Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority, $1,500 to hold an outdoor recreation food truck festival on July 28 in Walnutport to promote a variety of outdoor education and recreation opportunities;

-- Delaware Valley Green Building Council, $2,700 to hold a workshop for school personnel about creating healthier, more energy efficient schools;

-- Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition, $2,250 to provide scholarships to Lehigh Valley youth groups to experience the Delaware River Sojourn; and

-- Northampton County Conservation District, $1,550 to promote conservation education with an Act 48 Teacher Workshop about invasive species and how to safely and effectively remove them.

Funding for the grants was provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Learn more about the Lehigh Valley Conservation Landscape Initiative by visiting the Lehigh Valley Greenways and about Conservation Landscape Initiatives across the state by visiting the DCNR website.

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[Posted: June 8, 2018]

6/11/2018