On January 12, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced an investment of $19.4 million in 68 projects to help underserved and small communities and partnerships across the Commonwealth with recreation and conservation efforts.

The grants are funded from multiple sources with the largest being the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money appropriated for recreation and conservation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s 2022-23 budget.

“Having these federal dollars allowed DCNR to reduce the match required, making it possible for small and distressed communities to apply for the help needed to revitalize their boroughs and towns. Our regional advisors put in extra effort to assist,” Dunn said.

The special fall grant round focused on helping underserved communities and supporting an invigorated focus on the outdoor recreation sector, closing trail gaps, and planting trees along streams and in communities.

“Investing in the upkeep and expansion of our recreational areas improves the quality of life for people who live there, and it also helps support the network of businesses related to outdoor recreation and natural places that have a big impact on the state, local, and rural economies,” Pennsylvania Director of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner said.

Pennsylvania has the sixth largest outdoor recreation economy in the country.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation adds $14 billion to the Pennsylvania economy. This activity creates 150,000 full-time jobs which earn Pennsylvanians $6.8 billion in wages and salaries.

Local parks are as diverse as the populations they serve, but they all face similar challenges – access, connectivity, maintenance, staffing, and funding.

Applicants were encouraged to submit projects that advanced their local recreation and conservation vision and implemented priorities of the statewide outdoor recreation plan, such as constructing playgrounds, developing internal loop trails, and improving access for people of all abilities and backgrounds.

Projects are funded throughout Pennsylvania, including:

-- Bedford County – Mann Township, $118,200 for improvements to Community Park play equipment, basketball court, walkways, and fencing;

-- Blair County – Altoona, $375,000 for improvements to Garfield Park including loop trails, walkways, parking, and lighting;

-- Philadelphia, $187,500 for the Tacony Boat Launch and living shoreline project;

-- Schuylkill County – Tremont Borough, $276,000 for improvement to Tremont Borough park including new play equipment, a pavilion, and stormwater controls;

-- Statewide – Pennsylvania Environmental Council, $250,000 to develop an Outdoor Recreation Ambassador Program;

-- Statewide -- $1.8 million to Heritage Areas for a variety of projects including continued development of PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor’s bicycle tourism program, construction of a boathouse for the historic 1912 electric tour boat of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area, and completion of a master plan for a Dark Sky Program in Cameron County within the Lumber Heritage Region;

-- Union County – East Buffalo Township, $685,700 for acquisition of 79 acres for a new community park; and

-- Westmoreland County – Ligonier Township, $50,000 for a pool feasibility study and master plan for Ligonier Beach.

Click Here for a complete list of grants by county.

New Grant Rounds Opening

The 2023 grant round will open on January 17 and close April 5.

The grant programs opening include-- Community Recreation & Conservation Planning; Community & Watershed Forestry; Land Acquisition & Conservation; Motorized Trails; Non-Motorized Trails; Park Rehabilitation & Development; and State & Regional Partnerships.

The next ATV/Snowmobile grant round will open February 1 and close March 31.

Visit DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) webpage for more information.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Related Articles:

-- Gov.-Elect Shapiro To Nominate Rich Negrin For DEP, Retain Cindy Dunn At DCNR and Russell Redding At Agriculture [PaEN]

-- DCNR Outlines Accomplishments During Wolf Administration  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Announces $19.4 Million In Grants To Underserved/Distressed Communities, Partnerships To Improve Recreation, Community Revitalization Efforts Across PA; New Grant Rounds Opening Jan. 17   [PaEN]

-- DCNR Announces $11.8 Million Investment To Plant Trees, Buffers, Meadows To Improve Water Quality, Climate Resiliency; New Grant Rounds Opening Jan. 17  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Announces $3.2 Million Investment For Trail Gaps, ATV/Snowmobile Projects; New Grant Rounds Opening Jan. 17  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Honors Passerby Who Saved Man From Drowning At Codorus State Park In York County  [PaEN]

-- DCNR State Parks Issues First Environmental Education Update Of 2023  [PaEN]

-- The BURG: Change Agent: Meet Greg Czarnecki, A Man On A Mission To Impact Climate Change, One Pennsylvania At A Time

-- Game Commission Now Accepting Orders From Landowners For Tree & Shrub Seedlings To Improve Habitat  [PaEN]

[Posted: January 12, 2023]

1/16/2023