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Recreation for all.

2024 Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grants Announced
Students at a school in Philadelphia enthusiastically hold up shovels ready to plant trees
D C N R Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn helps students plant trees in Philadelphia
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) recently announced awards for the 2024 Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) grants.
In all, the program awarded $79.4 million in grants to more than 300 recreation and conservation projects across Pennsylvania.
Projects recommended for funding have site locations in 57 of 67 Pennsylvania counties.
The grants include funding to help:
  • Develop 25 new local parks
  • Rehabilitate 85 existing local parks
  • Permanently protect more than 6,800 acres for critical habitat and outdoor recreation
Another $10 million will support trails, including nine projects that will help address identified Priority Trail Gaps.
Thanks to increased state and federal funding, $10.5 million will support tree planting and lawn-to-habitat conversions—an amount seven times higher than was awarded in 2023.
Funding for C2P2 grants comes from multiple state and federal sources. The three largest are:
  1. Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund
  2. Land and Water Conservation Fund
  3. Environmental Stewardship Fund
Separately, DCNR also recently announced $2.6 million in federal funding from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program. That funding will help the City of Reading replace the Hillside Pool and the City of Scranton enhance Weston Field.

Grant Workshop Videos Published

A video playlist of all 2025 Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant workshop sessions is now available.
Check them out if you missed our recent grant workshop, or if you just want a refresher as you get ready for the next grant round.
We recommend watching the General Overview video first. Then watch the project type video that corresponds to the kind of grant you plan to apply for.
The 2025 grant round opens in about two months, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
For those interested in applying, it’s never too early to contact your regional advisor to schedule a site visit and discuss ways to make your application more competitive.
Link to video recording of the 2025 Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant workshop general session

Featured Project: Magical Miles Park Playground and Basketball-Pickleball Courts Hold Ribbon Cutting
Whitemarsh Township Parks and Recreation recently held a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the Magical Miles Park Playground and basketball-pickleball courts.
The Magical Miles Park Playground improvement plan called for an inclusive and accessible new playground area and a solar cell phone charging station. Work included pedestrian walkways, playground equipment with required safety surfacing, ADA access, landscaping, project sign, benches, and other site improvements.
The basketball court renovation included surfacing and painting of the courts to include pickleball lines for multi-use courts. The project also included stormwater management, two accessible entrances, bleachers, trash receptacles, new light poles, and energy-efficient LED lights.
Whitemarsh Township Parks and Recreation was honored to have the Montgomery County Down Syndrome Interest Group (MCDSIG) take part in the ribbon cutting. The Whitemarsh Township Police Department, surrounding community police departments and K-9 units, Barren Hill Fire Company, Spring Mill Fire Company, and Whitemarsh Community Ambulance also joined the celebration.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources supported the renovations with funding from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, with matching funding from Whitemarsh Township.
Link to video of highlights from the Magical Miles Park Playground ribbon cutting

Featured Project: Celebrating 20 Years of Conservation Easement Assistance Grants
WeConservePA recently celebrated 20 years of offering grants through its Conservation Easement Assistance Program (CEAP).
Started in 2004, CEAP grants have helped complete 395 conservation and trail easement projects. In all, those easements have conserved more than 30,000 acres.
The program offers small grants of up to $8,000 to help organizations plan and complete conservation, trail, and other public access easements in Pennsylvania.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources supports CEAP grants with funding from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund.

Funding Opportunity: Multiple Environmental Protection Agency Grant Programs Accepting Applications
Multiple funding opportunities are currently open from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The various programs fund projects and provide technical assistance for green infrastructure and restoring forest landscapes.
For a list of available EPA grant opportunities, including funding deadlines, visit the EPA’s Green Infrastructure Funding and Technical Assistance Opportunities webpage.

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