Six local environmental projects in the southeastern Pennsylvania area were selected today as the first recipients of Green Region, the PECO Energy municipal open space grant program.
Through the Green Region program, PECO assists municipalities in the area with ongoing efforts to protect and improve open land. “Many of the townships and municipalities in our service territory are seeking support for open space initiatives,” said Denis O’Brien, PECO president. “Through our Green Region grants, we’re providing funds to help seed these important environmental projects.”
Recognizing the value of open space to the quality of life in our communities, PECO’s Green Region grants are available to municipalities in amounts up to $10,000. As much as $100,000 in funding is available during 2005. Spearheaded by PECO, a Green Region review committee including PECO, Exelon, county and environmental representatives will meet twice a year to make grant awards.
Nearly 30 applications were received during this inaugural review. The first recipients are as follows:
Plumstead Township, Bucks County (The Pin Oak Grove Riparian Buffer Project at Summer Meadow) PECO awarded a $5,800 grant to fund beautification work with this designated open space area.
West Whiteland, Chester County (The Boot Road Butterfly Garden) An $8,200 grant was awarded to fund the construction of a butterfly garden in a new community park currently under development.
West Pikeland, Chester County (The Pickering Trail) A $5,000 grant has been awarded to secure matching funds for services to complete the Pickering Trail, creating winding country walkways and conservancy lands with potential for regional linkages to Phoenixville and Philadelphia.
Ridley Township, Delaware County (Ridley Marina) A $10,000 grant has been awarded to fund the planning of new improvements to Ridley Township’s municipal marina, including boat, vehicle and pedestrian access.
Cheltenham, Montgomery County (The Cresheim Trail Feasibility Study) PECO has awarded a $10,000 grant to provide funding for a feasibility study for the development of a trail to connect communities in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, including the Green Ribbon Trail, Wissahickon Creek Trails, Cresheim Creek Trail, and along abandoned railroad tracks through Philadelphia County, and Cheltenham and Springfield townships.
Plymouth Township, Montgomery County (The Harriet Wetherhill Park Master Site Plan) A $10,000 grant has been awarded to help permanently reserve the Harriet Wetherhill Park for ecological education, nature walks, passive recreation, and public use.
Through the Green Region program, PECO assists municipalities in southeastern Pennsylvania with ongoing efforts to protect and improve open land. “Many of the townships and municipalities in our service territory are seeking support for open space initiatives,” said O’Brien.
Green Region is administered by the Natural Lands Trust, a non-profit land conservation group. Grants are available twice a year with application deadlines in the spring and fall. The grants can be used, along with other sources of funding, to cover a wide variety of planning and direct expenses associated with developing and implementing open space protection programs including: consulting fees, surveys, environmental assessments, habitat improvements, and capital improvements for passive recreations.
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