Middletown, Pa. — Parks, trails, and waterways across Northcentral Pa. are among 306 projects in 60 counties sharing $81 million in new state Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) grants.
The grants were announced by Gov. Josh Shapiro and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced on Oct. 7.
The grants will help communities improve parks and playgrounds, build and repair trails, conserve open space, and restore rivers and watersheds. The announcement was made at the future site of Swatara Crossings Park in Middletown, Dauphin County, which received $600,000.
The investments are intended to help communities improve their parks, build trails, and help more people enjoy nature.
“When we support outdoor spaces close to home, we strengthen the fabric of our communities,” Secretary Dunn said.
Statewide, the largest share of the round, $35.5 million, goes to 154 local park and recreation facility projects. Funding comes from the Keystone Fund, the Environmental Stewardship Fund, and other sources.
Projects in the region are listed on DCNR’s webpage. Several of the grants are also listed below.
Centre County
$377,200 to State College Borough to rehabilitate and further develop High Point Park, including the basketball court, tennis court, access drive, and parking area plus a new comfort station and walkway
$300,000 to Patton Township for further development of Gray’s Woods Park, including a pavilion, walkways, a boardwalk, and play equipment
$246,200 to ClearWater Conservancy of Central Pa. for about 8 acres of riparian forest buffer in the Susquehanna River watershed
$95,800 to ClearWater Conservancy for about 5.5 acres of meadows or upland trees along Spring Creek
$49,700 to ClearWater Conservancy for a master site development plan for the 149.1-acre Rhonymeade property in Potter Township, Centre County
$34,000 to College Township for a master site development plan for the 5.2-acre Nittany Orchard Park
$455,200 to ClearWater Conservancy to build about 8 miles of new trail and rehabilitate about 1.7 miles of trail in Rothrock State Forest in Centre, Huntingdon, and Mifflin counties
State Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre) announced three of the Centre County grants, totaling $923,400: High Point Park, Gray’s Woods Park, and the riparian forest buffer, which his office described as plantings along streams in Centre and Huntingdon counties to maintain waterway health.
“Our county’s array of nature is one of its greatest attributes, and I’m proud to secure funding to make it even more accessible for everyone,” Conklin said.
Clinton County
$373,900 to Clinton County to build a 0.59-mile section of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail from Phase 2 to Wayne Township Park and rehabilitate three bridges between Castanea and Pine Creek townships
Columbia County
$250,000 to the Town of Bloomsburg to rehabilitate and further develop Town Park, including parking, walkways, and fitness equipment
$250,000 to Central Columbia School District for a community wellness trail in South Centre Township
Lycoming County
$400,000 to Ducks Unlimited to restore the 85-acre Ridge Wetland and stabilize streambanks for the Perimeter Wetland on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Washington and Brady townships
Montour County
$288,000 to Danville Area School District for further development of its athletic fields in Danville Borough and Mahoning Township
Northumberland County
$250,000 to the City of Sunbury to rehabilitate Oppenheimer Park, including renovation of the splash pad
$89,100 to Kulpmont Borough to rehabilitate Veteran’s Memorial Park, including the baseball field and dugouts
$19,500 to Mount Carmel Borough for a master site development plan for the 0.26-acre Oak Street Park
Snyder County
$275,600 to Snyder County for further development of Faylor Lake County Park in Spring Township, including a comfort station, pavilions, walkways, and a boardwalk
Tioga County
$425,000 to Wellsboro Borough to rehabilitate the Packer Park Pool, including the wading pool and decking plus filtration systems and shade structures
$69,700 to Blossburg Borough to rehabilitate Island Park, including renovation of the tennis courts
Union County
$96,300 to Mifflinburg Borough to add nature play equipment at Community Park
$54,800 to Lewisburg Borough for a master site development plan for Soldier’s Park, Mariah’s Garden, and Lewisburg Landing
Multicounty and regional
$187,100 to SEDA-Council of Governments for a greenway plan covering Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, and Snyder counties
$249,900 to Stroud Water Research Center for riparian forest buffers in the Susquehanna River watershed in Bradford, Dauphin, Lancaster, and Lebanon counties
$299,800 to the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, including management of the West Branch and Lower North Branch Susquehanna River water trails
$347,400 to Endless Mountains Heritage Region, including management of the North Branch Susquehanna River Water Trail
$300,000 to the Pennsylvania Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship for the PA Wilds Conservation Landscape
$579,500 to Lumber Heritage Region of Pa., including conservation of a historic train station and pedestrian bridge in Bellefonte
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