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Grant Workshop Videos Posted
Videos from DCNR’s recent annual grant workshop are now available on DCNR’s YouTube page. If you missed the annual grant workshop on Nov. 3, or if you want a refresher on what was covered, these videos are a good place to learn more about applying for grants in 2023.
Interested applicants should watch the general overview video first, then watch the breakout session video about their specific project type for more detailed information. The posted videos include:
screenshot of DCNR grant workshop video
Featured Project: Martic Forge Trestle Bridge Reopens after Fire
ribbon cutting at Martic Forge Trestle Bridge
people cross the newly opened Martic Forge Trestle Bridge
DCNR recently joined Martic Township officials in Lancaster County to dedicate the new Martic Forge Trestle Bridge.
The bridge is along the Enola Low Grade Trail and was one of Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Trail Gaps.
The new bridge replaces the wooden bridge deck that was destroyed by fire in 2018. It reopens a continuous 20-mile stretch of the Enola Low Grade Trail from Manor Township through Quarryville.
DCNR supported the project in 2019 with $1,127,000 in funding from the Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Program and the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund.
“Trails are key connectors to new outdoor recreation opportunities, communities, and experiences, which is why DCNR supports projects of this nature and prioritizes trail expansion across the commonwealth,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “We are grateful for municipalities like Martic Township that prioritize this type of project, as well as our partners at the county and state level within the Wolf Administration. This is a collective success.”
The Martic Forge restoration project also received four grants totaling $1.75 million through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Commonwealth Financing Authority in 2019 and 2021. These funds were used to make critical repairs and upgrades to the support structure.
The Martic Forge Trestle Bridge is the second Top 10 Trail Gap closed in 2022, following the opening of the Safe Harbor Trestle Bridge in June.
“We are very excited to be in the position of finally opening this trestle and section of the trail in our townships. We hope that it becomes a popular destination for Lancaster County, for the region, and for the state. Based on public input and the feedback we’ve received, we think it will be a big success,” said Carl Drexel, Martic Township Supervisor.
Landscape view from atop the Martic Forge Trestle Bridge
Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities Program Now Accepting Applications
Are you working to improve safe, equitable access to local parks in the state of Pennsylvania, but need assistance? 
The new state-based Activating Communities program provides tailored technical assistance for four communities to develop Safe Routes to Parks action plans and awards $10,000 to each community to begin implementing those plans.
Applications are open now and will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. 
To learn more and to apply, please visit the Safe Routes to Parks website.
2023 Regional Trail Workshop Grant Applications Now Open
bikers ride on the Schuylkill River Trail
WeConservePA is offering grants of up to $5,000 to conservation-oriented non-profit organizations, trail management organizations, and local/county governments to support their local land trail, water trail, and greenway education efforts.
Funded through DCNR and administered by WeConservePA, Regional Trail Workshop Grants are awarded to support high-quality educational programming and safety training directly related to land trails, water trails, and greenways.
Regional Trail Workshop Grants are reimbursement grants that cover up to 80 percent of the costs directly associated with each workshop (not to exceed $5,000). They require at least a 20 percent match from the organization. Grantees are responsible for all remaining workshop costs.
Only one grant will be awarded per organization per year.
To apply, complete the grant application and budget worksheet and submit to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org by the application deadline of Sunday, Jan. 25, 2023. Use the subject “Regional Trail Workshop Grant Application.”
Questions can be directed to Carol Grayshaw at cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org or 717-219-4074.
DCNR Publishes Conservation Considerations for Grid-Scale Solar Installations
As interest in harnessing power through solar energy increases, DCNR has developed guidance for those considering grid-scale solar installations. 
“As Pennsylvania’s conservation leader and trustee of the commonwealth’s natural resources, DCNR has developed guidance for landowners, developers, planners, and local officials for the siting and construction of grid-scale solar projects,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “The department supports advancing grid-scale solar that avoids or limits impacts on forests, wildlife, and water.”
The new resource, Conservation Considerations for Siting, Planning, and Maintaining Grid-Scale Solar Systems in Pennsylvania includes a number of key resources for informed planning and decision-making.
The recommendations in the document outline 10 considerations for siting best practices and eight for sustainable design.
Grid-scale solar installations are not permitted on DCNR lands, nor on lands that have received DCNR grant funds.
The department is deploying small-scale solar arrays to take certain buildings and facilities off the grid, saving money and reducing DCNR’s carbon footprint.
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