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Outdoor Places, Shared Spaces.

February 25, 2026

Conestoga River Named Pennsylvania's 2026 River of the Year
kayakers gather in the water at a boat launch on the Conestoga River
The Conestoga River in southeastern Pennsylvania has been selected by public vote as the Commonwealth’s 2026 River of the Year.
“We are excited to spend the year celebrating the beauty and majesty of this wonderful waterway,” said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “This once-polluted river is an example of what can happen when we prioritize clean, healthy waterways. Its transformation has made the Conestoga a hub for outdoor recreation, providing a boost to the region and demonstrating that rivers build thriving communities.”
The Conestoga River Club nominated the Conestoga River and will receive a $15,000 Leadership Grant to help fund a slate of year-long 2026 River of the Year activities.
The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers oversees the River of the Year Program with funding from DCNR. Funding comes from the Environmental Stewardship Fund.

Funding Opportunity: New Project Planning Grants, Expanded Conservation Easement Assistance Program Grants for Land Trusts
WeConservePA recently announced new and expanded grant opportunities for Pennsylvania land trusts.
The new Project Planning Grants offer up to $20,000 to help qualifying land trusts pursue the conservation of land for the public benefit.
The organization also announced larger available awards in its longtime Conservation Easement Assistance Program (CEAP). Funding amounts increased to up to $13,000 to support projects that include the establishment of transfer fees and certain other funding covenants to support perpetual stewardship.
Visit the updated CEAP guidelines for more information.

Funding Opportunity: Chesapeake WILD Grants Announced, Next Round Open
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced $6.9 million in Chesapeake Watershed Investments in Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) grants.
The projects will support 33 partner-led conservation projects in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
The 2026 application round for these grants is also open. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is accepting applications through Thursday, April 9.
The grants fund projects that restore, conserve, and connect fish and wildlife habitats.
For more information, view the recorded applicant webinar.
cover slide for the Chesapeake Wild Grant Application Webinar

New Publication: Financing Municipal Parks and Recreation in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) recently released an update to its publication Financing Municipal Parks and Recreation in Pennsylvania.
The book highlights practical strategies used in Pennsylvania communities to help agencies build sustainable funding models.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources supported the update as part of a State and Regional Partnerships grant to PRPS. Funding came from the Environmental Stewardship Fund.

Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area Seeks Input
The state-designated Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area is seeking public input for its Management Action Plan.
The Heritage Area invites the public to complete a brief survey about outdoor and historic experiences in the region.
Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area includes nine counties in southern Pennsylvania. It stretches from Armstrong County in the west to Perry County in the east.

Grant Application Tip
stylized graphic of a green dollar sign
The annual Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant application period is open through 4:00 PM on Thursday, April 30.
During the grant round, we’ll include tips in this e-news to help you submit the most competitive application you can.
This issue’s tip: Use the most current outdoor recreation plan to answer Question 5.
Question 5 asks you to describe how your project advances actions in Pennsylvania’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) or the Commonwealth’s Land and Water Trail Network Strategic Plan.
Both plans received updates in 2025. Make sure to reference the new versions in your response.
SCORP actions can be found on pages 93-97 of the plan. Trail plan actions are on pages 23-27 of that plan.

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