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Recreation for all.

Featured Project: Minersville Community Park Improves Urban Park Access in Johnstown

people gather around a basketball hoop to celebrate the opening of Minersville Community Park
part of the new playground at Minersville Community Park
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn recently visited Johnstown to celebrate the opening of a new community park in the city, Minersville Community Park.
“This park is a tremendous step in improving access to nature in one of Pennsylvania’s key urban communities,” said Dunn. “Thank you to everyone on the ground who worked to make this park possible for Johnstown. Present and future generations will be able to enjoy nature here for years to come thanks to this important work.”
DCNR invested $160,800 in the park’s development. The park features a walking path, basketball half-court, pavilion, parking area, and playground.
In addition to DCNR funding, the $321,600 park project was made possible by a $150,800 investment from the City of Johnstown and a $10,000 donation from city resident Robert Ramos.
Other key partners included the Johnstown Community Redevelopment Authority, Minersville Polish Alliance, and community members such as the Minersville Action Committee.
“This project is the culmination of strong local partnerships and the community seeing the value of investing in local communities,” said Mary Ann Manculich, a member of the Minersville Action Committee. “We now have a playground and open space for people of all ages thanks to this collaborative work. Special thanks to Robert Ramos and thank you to everyone who made this park a reality.”

Funding Opportunity: Applications Open for Wild Resource Conservation Program Grants

Applications are now open for the 2025 Wild Resource Conservation Program (WRCP).
Overseen by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), WRCP offers grant funding to support research and conservation projects that protect Pennsylvania’s native wildlife, plants, and ecosystems.
It provides critical support for conserving non-game animals, native plants and fungi, and invertebrates such as insects—species often left out of traditional conservation programs but vital to the Commonwealth’s ecosystems.
“These grants fuel the kind of science-driven, hands-on conservation work that helps protect Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable wildlife and plant species,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “The Shapiro Administration is committed to maintaining our Commonwealth’s rich biodiversity for future generations — and this program is a key part of that mission.”
Applications will be accepted via the DCNR Grants Customer Service Portal through 4:00 PM on Monday, July 7.
Pennsylvanians can contribute to WRCP through the Eastern Hellbender license plate and the state’s voluntary tax check-off.

Featured Project: Bald Eagle Valley Trail Completes Another Phase of Construction

Officials cut the ribbon at the opening of another phase of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail
a portion of the new stretch of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail
Local and state officials recently gathered in Clinton County to celebrate the opening of the next phase of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail.
The newest one-mile section connects Katie’s Crossing—a pedestrian bridge over the Susquehanna River’s West Branch—to State Route 150 near Avis.
The Bald Eagle Valley Trail is a multi-year effort. When complete, it will stretch more than 10 miles and connect Lock Haven with the Pine Creek Rail Trail.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has supported the trail’s development with multiple grants totaling more than $600,000. Funding sources include the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and the federally-funded Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Program.

Historic Mifflin House Nationally Recognized as Underground Railroad Site

aerial view of the historic Mifflin House
The Historic Mifflin House in Hellam Township, York County recently joined the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom.
The network consists of more than 800 locations with verifiable connections to the Underground Railroad.
The house provided a haven for freedom seekers passing through central Pennsylvania. With assistance from the Mifflin family, their fellow Quakers, and other locals, those escaping slavery found a safe place to rest and cross the Susquehanna River on their journeys north.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources helped protect the site and surrounding farmstead with a grant of more than $2 million from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. The site is now owned by the Susquehanna National Heritage Area.

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