On Friday, October 17th, Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation & Natural Resources announced $33 million in grants awarded through their Community Conservation Partnerships Program for trails, parks and open space.  Ten awards (out of 219) were for Circuit trail projects, totalling $1,995,500.  The ten projects included four for construction, five for planning, and one for acquisition.  Listed below are the ten grants awarded to Circuit trails.  Full list of all grants can be downloaded here

We offer a hearty congrats to all of our partners who received this funding!  It's terrific and we are excited that so many worthy projects are going to be moving forward!  And many thanks to our hardworking colleagues at DCNR for making these awards possible.  Thank you DCNR!!!

CONSTRUCTION

Doylestown Township, $326,000, Development of the Neshaminy Creek Greenway Trail in New Britain Borough and New Britain and Doylestown townships, Bucks County.  Work to include the construction of approximately 0.75 mile of trail and bridge to connect Upper State Road in Doylestown Township to the New Britain Train Station in New Britain Borough; ADA access, landscaping, project sign, and other related site improvements. Stephanie Mason, (215) 348-9915 ext. 1033. 

Solebury Township, $500,000, Further development of the Route 202 Gateway Trail in Solebury Township, Bucks County.  Work to include the construction of a 0.3-mile trail segment from the Route 202 Connector Road to Magill's Hill Park on Chapel Road in Solebury Township; ADA access, landscaping, project sign, and other related site improvements. Dennis H. Carney, (215) 297-5656. 

Phoenixville Borough, $481,900, Further development of the Schuylkill River Trail in Phoenixville Borough, Chester County and Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County.  Work to include the construction of approximately 0.2 mile of trail across the PA Route 29 Mont Clare Bridge to connect Phoenixville Borough to Upper Providence Township; ADA access, landscaping, project sign, and other related site improvements. Jean Krack, (610) 933-8801 ext. 111. 

Philadelphia City, $400,000, Development of the Frankford Creek Greenway in Philadelphia City.  Work to include construction of approximately 1.2 miles of trail from the intersection of Wheatsheaf Lane and Aramingo Avenue to the intersection of Lewis Street and Delaware Avenue in Philadelphia City; ADA access, landscaping, project sign, and other related site improvements. Robert Armstrong, (215) 683-0229. 

PLANNING

Chester County, $50,000, Prepare a Trail Study to evaluate options to connect the Chester Valley Trail to the Struble and Brandywine trails in Downingtown Borough, Chester County; Caln, East Caln, East Bradford, West Bradford, and West Whiteland townships, Delaware County.  Work to include a written, bound report. Brian E. Styche, (610) 344-6285. 

Concord Township, $40,000, Prepare a Trail Study to evaluate the options to develop a 6-mile multi-use trail along the Octorara Railroad line in Concord Township and Chester Heights Borough, Delaware County.  Work to include a written, bound report. Brenda L. Lamanna, (610) 459-8911 ext. 102. 

Haverford Township, $45,000, Prepare a Trail Study to evaluate options to extend the Darby Creek Trail north to the Haverford Reserve and south to the Upper Darby Township line in Haverford Township, Delaware County.  Work to include a written, bound report. Tim E. Denny, (610) 446-9397. 

Clean Air Council, $30,000, Prepare a Trail Study to evaluate options to extend the Cobbs Creek Connector Trail - Segment B from the Blue Bell Inn at Woodland Avenue and Island Avenue to the Cibotti Recreation Center at 77th Street and Elmwood Avenue. Work to include a written, bound report. Nick Rogers, (215) 567-4004 ext. 110. 

Schuylkill River Development Corporation, $50,000, Prepare a Trail Study to evaluate options for extending the Schuylkill River Trail along the eastern bank of the Schuylkill River from Christian Street to the Grays Ferry Crescent Trail at 34th Street in Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County.  Work to include a written, bound report. Joseph R. Syrnick PE,  tel:215-222-6030-ext.102

ACQUISITION

Montgomery County, $73,000, Payment toward the acquisition of three parcels totaling approximately 16 acres along Route 422 in Lower Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County for open space and access to the Schuylkill River and proposed Schuylkill River Trail. Michael M. Stokes, (610) 278-3729. 

DCNR Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Public Meeting – October 7, 2014

DCNR is updating its strategic plan and we need to hear from Greater Philadelphia! Where should DCNR be making investments and building partnerships?

DCNR Grant Workshop – November 6, 2014

If you are thinking about applying for a grant from DCNR – you should attend! Learn about how the application process works and how to receive the best score possible.

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources (DCNR)'s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation has announced that the Community Conservation Partnerships Program 2014 Open Grant Application Period will be running from January 15th, 2014 to April 16th, 2014. This grant is available for projects that advance local recreation and conservation priorities and implement the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2009-2013.

For more information about the DCNR Grant and to apply, click here or see the attached flyer.

The DCNR will be holding six FREE workshops with the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society around the state to provide further information on the grant and its application process. The Delaware Valley-area workshop will be held on February 6th, 2014 from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon at the following address:

Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus: Fire Academy

1175 Conshohocken Road

Conshohocken, PA 19428

You must register online for a workshop at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/calendar in order to attend. Please register no less than one week prior to the date of the workshop you are planning to attend. For more information on the workshops, go to http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/newsandevents//index.htm or see the attached flyer.