NEWS RELEASE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Christina Novak
DCNR Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101

GOVERNOR RENDELL AWARDS $23 MILLION FOR RECREATION AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA

HARRISBURG (July 5, 2006) — Pennsylvania residents in most of the state will benefit from a more than $23 million investment in conservation and recreation projects designed to help revitalize communities and protect natural resources, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

“This money will fund 242 projects to help us preserve and enhance the tremendous opportunities we have in Pennsylvania to connect with the great outdoors,” Governor Rendell said. “Across the state, we are investing in local parks and greenways, trails, rivers and open space conservation because we know these assets are what help keep families healthy, and make our communities economically vibrant and great places to live, work and play.”

Funding for the grants comes from Growing Greener II, a voter-approved $625 million bond issue, and Keystone ’93, a DCNR fund generated from a portion of the realty transfer tax.

“Without Growing Greener II, many of these projects would have gone unfunded and the opportunity to partner with local communities to help them realize their recreation and conservation goals would have been lost,” Governor Rendell said.

Statewide, the grants will fund a variety of projects and impact six swimming pool; 59 playgrounds; 53 sports courts and fields; 50 trails; and 49 planning projects for regional efforts, parks, greenways and rivers conservation. It will also continue the TreeVitalize effort to restore tree cover in southeastern Pennsylvania; expand Better Models for Development smart growth efforts; continue the adopt-a-greenway program; and improve outreach and education efforts, including birding trail guides and river sojourns.

The list also includes more than $1.2 million for projects in the 12 counties in the northcentral region that make up the Pennsylvania Wilds, providing support for important community infrastructure improvements that will make them attractive places for economic investments.

Growing Greener II funding is used to clean up rivers and streams; protect natural areas, open spaces and working farms; and shore up key programs to improve quality of life and revitalize communities across the commonwealth. Since November, Governor Rendell has announced $31.5 million in upgrades and improvements to state parks and forests under Growing Greener II, and almost $14.5 million in open space protection.

DCNR received 436 applications looking for more than $69 million in assistance in this grant round. For a complete list of grants by county, visit the DCNR web site at www.dcnr.state.pa.us and click on “Grants.”

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2006