The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is now accepting applications for grants of up to $5,000 from the Canoe Access Development Fund to help provide improved access to Class 2 and 3 waterways.

Applications are due September 5.

Non-profit conservation organizations must be the recipients of the grants and a proposed new access site must be located along a Class 2 or Class 3, stream or river featured in the Canoeing Guide to Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia.

Grants of up to $4,000 per site are available for the construction and enhancement of access locations for items like: parking areas, creating stabilized access areas and paths to the waterway, purchase of conservation land easement and/or riverside access, paying for a portion of a larger land tract for access, upgrading an existing access location.

An additional $1,000 will be provided for a post project 10 year maintenance plan. The organization applying to the Fund must be committed to maintaining the access site for 10 years after the project is completed.

A copy of the RFP is available online.

Prior to submitting an application, an application is required to contact Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Eli Long at 724-459-0953 ext. 106 or send email to: elong@paconserve.org .

8/1/2008