The Commissioners of Chester County, Pennsylvania offer two distinct programs that provide funding to municipalities and nonprofit land conservation organizations to permanently preserve significant natural, recreational, agricultural, historic, and cultural land resources; enhance public access to those lands; provide public benefit; and implement County and municipal land use policies.
Donor Name: Chester County Parks & Preservation
County: Chester County (PA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/28/2023
Details:
The programs are administered by the Department of Parks and Preservation.
- Municipal Program
- Acquisition Grants
- Park and Trail Improvement Grants
- Conservancy Program
- Acquisition Grants
- Public Benefit Improvement Grants
Municipal Program
The Municipal Program advances the County’s Strategic Plan by awarding funds to local governments to assist them with providing parks, trails, and preserves for their citizens.
- Acquisition Grants
- Acquisition grants fund a maximum of 50% of the appraised value to buy land, conservation easements, or trail easements plus eligible transaction costs.
- Park and Trail Improvement Grants
- Park and Trail Improvement Grants fund park facility and trail construction costs at a maximum of 50% up to $250,000 for parks of 20 or more contiguous acres, and a maximum of 25% up to $100,000 for parks less than 20 acres.
Conservancy Program
The Conservancy Program advances the County’s Strategic Plan by awarding funds to nonprofit land conservation organizations to assist them with preserving land and connecting people to the land.
- Acquisition Grants
- Natural Area Preservation grants fund a maximum of 50% of the appraised value to buy land, conservation easements, or trail easements plus eligible transaction costs.
- Farmland Preservation grants fund up to the lesser of $3,000 per acre or 33% of the appraised value, plus eligible transaction costs for easement purchases and up to the lesser of $5,000 per acre or 33% of the appraised value, plus eligible transaction costs for fee simple purchases
- Public Benefit Improvement Grants:
- Public Benefit Improvement Grants fund up to 50% of eligible costs with a $50,000 maximum for the construction of publicly accessible trails and trail-related amenities, and for nature-based improvements on permanently preserved land that will benefit water quality or contribute to habitat restoration
General County Priorities
While all eligible project applications will be considered and evaluated based on their merits, the County’s comprehensive plan, Landscapes, provides guidance on focus areas for land preservation and recreation through its Interactive Map series. This collection of planning maps highlights Conservation Clusters and Corridors, Natural Resource Priority Protection Areas, Farmland Preservation Opportunities, Historic Themes, Recreation Access, and Circuit Trails and will be helpful in determining if your project is a County priority
Municipal Acquisition Grants
Eligible Applicants
- Chester County municipalities (individual or joint applicants)
- Land-owning municipal recreation authorities
Eligible Projects
- Fee simple acquisition of privately owned land for public access and benefit.
- Acquisition of conservation easements with provisions for public access.
- Acquisition of right-of-way easements for public recreational use (i.e. trails).
- Fee simple acquisition of eased or restricted property, if ownership will significantly increase public access and recreational opportunities on the property.
- Fee simple acquisition of land owned by non-County governmental agencies, if ownership will significantly increase public access and recreational opportunities on the property.
- Transaction costs associated with eligible projects involving the full donation of land or easement to the municipality, up to the limits established by this program. To be eligible, the project must conform to all Preservation Partnership Grant requirements and the County must retain a legal interest in the land or easement.
Municipal Park and Trail Improvement Grants
Eligible Applicants
- Chester County municipalities (individual or joint applicants)
- Land-owning municipal recreation authorities
Eligible Projects
- Construction of recreational facilities within parks such as athletic fields and courts, trails, playgrounds, nature study areas, and pavilions; and site amenities associated with and supporting the recreational improvements. On a case-by-case basis, site amenities as stand-alone projects may be eligible.
- Small-scale, nature-based improvements within parks that will benefit water quality or contribute to habitat restoration, such as riparian buffer plantings, native plantings, and rain gardens.
- Construction of off-road trails (other than trails within parks.)
Conservancy Acquisition Grants
Eligible Applicants
- Eligible applicants are nonprofit land conservation and preservation organizations that:
- have a primary purpose of conservation and preservation of open space, parklands, or natural areas for public benefit;
- are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
- are registered with the Bureau of Charitable Organizations within the Pennsylvania Department of State;
- are pre-qualified by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as eligible to receive Land Trust acquisition grants;
- and have been in existence for at least 5 consecutive years
Eligible Projects
- Fee simple acquisition of privately owned land that provides significant public benefit.
- Acquisition of conservation easements that provide significant public benefit.
- Farmland Preservation Projects: Fee simple purchases of agricultural land or the acquisition of conservation easements on agricultural land if the project meets the following criteria:
- Minimum 15 net acres of farmland (must net out a minimum of 2 acres around existing residences and support structures as well as access to these areas and any other excluded areas.)
- Minimum 50% of the parcel in agricultural use.
- Parcels with less than 15 net acres of farmland with at least 50% of the parcel in agricultural use will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Acquisition of right-of-way easements for public recreational use (i.e. trails.)
- Fee simple acquisition of eased or restricted property, if ownership will significantly increase public access and recreational opportunities on the property.
- Fee simple acquisition of land owned by non-County governmental agencies, if ownership will significantly increase public access and recreational opportunities on the property.
- Transaction costs associated with eligible projects involving the full donation of land or easement to the nonprofit, up to the limits established by this program. To be eligible, the project must conform to all Preservation Partnership Grant requirements and the County must retain a legal interest in the land or easement.
Conservancy Public Benefit Improvement Grants
Eligible Applicants
- Eligible applicants are nonprofit land conservation and preservation organizations that:
- have a primary purpose of conservation, preservation, and stewardship of open space, parklands, or natural areas for public benefit;
- are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
- are registered with the Bureau of Charitable Organizations within the Pennsylvania Department of State; and
have been in existence for at least 5 consecutive years. - own or have a legal interest in the land on which the improvements will be made (with the exception of projects on land preserved through the County Agricultural
Eligible Projects
- Construction of publicly accessible trails.
- Construction of trail-related amenities such as trailheads, trail-side facilities, parking areas, and signs.
- If pre-approved by the Department of Parks and Preservation for inclusion in the grant application, improvements such as restrooms, water fountains, and construction of or improvements to structures and buildings that make a significant contribution to the benefit the trail provides to the general public. (Pre-approval for inclusion in the application does not guarantee or imply funding or approval by the County Commissioners.)
- Improvements that facilitate access and use of trails by persons with disabilities.
- Restoration or rehabilitation of trails, including rerouting or repair of areas damaged by trail use, flooding, or erosion; rehabilitation of trail tread and other facilities that have deteriorated over time.
- Small-scale, nature-based improvements on permanently preserved land that will benefit water quality or contribute to habitat restoration, such as riparian buffer plantings, native plantings, and rain gardens. (For projects on land preserved through the County Agricultural Land Preservation Program, the nonprofit is not required to own or hold a legal interest in the site of the improvement.)
- For trail and trail related projects, the site must be open to the general public at regularly scheduled and posted days and times and the land upon which the trail and any accessory structures are proposed must be permanently designated for public use prior to the release of any County funds.
For more information, visit Preservation Partnership Program.
