Department of Conservation and Natural Resources official logo. A blue and green keystone graphic with the letters D C N R in white. Separated by a blue, vertical line, there is text that says Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Bureau of Recreation and Conservation
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Recreation for all.

Featured Project: Diverse Input Contributes to Mifflin Square Park Renovations
Partners cut the ribbon on the renovations at Mifflin Square Park
A slide, climbing structure, and other new play equipment at the renovated Mifflin Square Park
State, federal, and local partners recently came together to enhance recreation opportunities in South Philadelphia.
Mifflin Square Park is one of the few public green spaces in this diverse part of the city.
“Mifflin Square Park serves families from more than 77 countries of origin, speaking 55 languages,” said Thoai Nguyen, Chief Executive Officer of the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition (SEAMAAC), one of the oldest and largest refugee-founded non-profit organizations in the region.
Those families played a central role in designing the park’s renovations. SEAMACC and its local partners gathered input through community meetings, focus groups, events, and surveys in multiple languages.
That input helped the partners raise funds to renovate the park, including receiving Pennsylvania’s first Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant. The $750,000 grant from the National Park Service enabled the transformation of Mifflin Square Park with new pathways, inclusive play areas, a spray ground, and other amenities.
“It’s a model of how urban parks can be revitalized for the benefit of all,” said Claire Jantz, Deputy Secretary for Conservation and Technical Services at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

New Outdoor Recreation Plan Webinars Coming Soon

Pennsylvania’s new Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan has almost arrived.
Five 30-minute webinars in February will review the draft plan’s priorities as well as provide time for audience questions. A public comment link will be provided at the end of each webinar.
All the webinars are free and open to the public. Use the links below to register:

Vote for the 2025 River of the Year
Voting is open to select Pennsylvania’s 2025 River of the Year.
The nominees are:
  • Delaware River: The longest undammed river in the Eastern U.S., forming part of Pennsylvania’s border with New York and New Jersey
  • Youghiogheny River: A hub for water recreation in western Pennsylvania.
  • Perkiomen Creek: A 37.7-mile tributary of the Schuylkill River, stretching through Berks, Lehigh, and Montgomery counties.
“These three rivers are remarkable examples of Pennsylvania’s rich natural heritage,” said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “This competition not only highlights their unique qualities but also builds community pride and emphasizes their recreational, cultural, and economic importance. I can’t wait to see which waterway earns the 2025 title.”
Votes can be cast online at the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers website, with details on each nominee and the River of the Year program. One vote per email address is permitted.
Voting is open through 5:00 PM on Friday, January 24.
landscape view of the Allegheny River with forested hills on either side under a deep blue sky

2024 Grant Accomplishments
As 2025 gets underway, we thought we’d take a look back at 2024 and some of our favorite stories from the past year.
Last year was a big year for grants here at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. We awarded $79.4 million for more than 300 local projects across Pennsylvania. We also awarded another $2.1 million for all-terrain vehicle and snowmobile projects.
Among those projects, the grants will help build or renovate 110 local parks and protect 6,800 acres of land for habitat and public outdoor recreation.
Some other accomplishments we’re especially proud of:
Keep those amazing projects coming!
Infographic noting the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation's grant accomplishments in 2024, including $81.5 million in funding awarded for more than 300 local projects.

Celebrating 20 Years of Highlands Projects
The federal Highlands Conservation Act recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Since 2004, the act’s grant program has protected more than 16,000 acres in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.
The Highlands Region includes most of southeastern Pennsylvania, stretching from Chambersburg in Franklin County up through Easton in Northampton County.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the act has helped complete 124 land conservation projects. Federal funds are matched dollar-for-dollar by state and private funds.
In Pennsylvania, Highlands funding has been especially helpful for expanding the William Penn State Forest, increasing access to nature in some of Pennsylvania’s most densely populated areas.
“The Highlands program is a cornerstone funding piece for our land conservation efforts in southeastern Pennsylvania,” said Tom Ford, director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. “We’ve been able to put assets where the people are and provide recreation close to home.”
Map showing the boundary of the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program including parts of four states, Pennsylvania among them.

Dates to Remember
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