Featured Project: New Susquehanna River Accessibility Study Published |
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The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership recently completed a comprehensive accessibility study of river access sites along the Lower West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
The study examines access sites from Renovo downriver to the confluence of the West and North Branches at Northumberland.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources helped support the study as part of a Partnership grant. Funding came from the Environmental Stewardship Fund.
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One challenge for the study authors was that there is no widely established standard for assessing accessibility across Pennsylvania’s river access network.
“River access is a little different from a traditional park or trailhead,” said Alana Jajko, Executive Director of the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership. “You can’t apply the same standards you would use for a sidewalk or parking lot to the launch itself since the angle and design of a boat launch must meet certain criteria to accommodate paddlers and watercraft. What we can evaluate—and what can make a tremendous difference—is everything that gets a person from their vehicle to the river.”
For every site evaluated, the study includes an action plan with opportunities for improvement.
“Accessibility improvements don't have to happen all at once,” said Jajko. “There are meaningful steps that communities can take—from improving parking and creating a continuous accessible path to upgrading amenities—that can make a river access site more usable while working toward larger improvements in the future.”
The study could serve as a model for future accessibility studies both along the Susquehanna and at other river access sites.
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Featured Project: Circuit Rider Grant Expands Northcentral Regional ATV Trail Capacity |
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The Northcentral Regional ATV Trail network is a multi-county system connecting state forest trails, municipal roads, and local communities across Clinton, Potter, and Tioga counties.
The trail network recently reached a milestone in its governance. It transitioned from direct Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) management to local intergovernmental oversight. The network is now led by the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail Council of Governments.
That Council’s mission is to facilitate a safe and sustainable motorized trail network that empowers rural communities to foster conservation and economic growth.
Earlier this year, the Council expanded with the hiring of an executive director, Bradley Smith. The position was funded in part by a DCNR Circuit Rider grant.
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Circuit Rider grants support hiring of full-time staff to provide regional park, recreation, and conservation programs and services.
Funding for the grant came from the Keystone Fund.
"I’m honored to lead the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail Council of Governments as we transition management closer to the communities this network serves," said Smith. "By fostering strong partnerships between local governments, DCNR, and regional businesses, we are building a seamless outdoor recreation asset that protects our natural resources while driving sustainable economic growth."
In his role, Smith oversees administrative systems, signage standards, dust suppression protocols, and strategic partnerships with local municipalities and tourism agencies.
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Funding Opportunity: Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants Accepting Applications |
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The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) recently announced that it is accepting applications for Volunteer Fire Assistance grants.
The grants support volunteer fire companies to help protect rural communities from wildfires.
“The commitment and dedication of these volunteers is critical to ensuring the Commonwealth doesn’t experience larger wildfires,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “We appreciate the hard work of the volunteer firefighters serving our rural communities across Pennsylvania.”
Applications must be submitted electronically through the DCNR Grants Customer Service Portal by 4:00 PM, Thursday, January 7, 2027.
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The maximum grant award in 2027 is $15,000 per fire company, with funding provided on a 50/50 cost-share basis. Eligible applicants include state and local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with fewer than 10,000 residents.
Up to $950,000 is available to support the grants.
Priority will be placed on projects that include the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment and protective clothing. Grants may also be used to purchase mobile or portable radios; install dry hydrants; conduct wildfire prevention and mitigation work; train wildland firefighters; or convert vehicles into wildland fire engines.
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