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York County Open Space and Land Preservation Grant Program (Pennsylvania)

Applicants are now invited to submit applications for 2023 York County Open Space and Land Preservation Grant Program.

Donor Name: York County Planning Commission

State: Pennsylvania

County: York County (PA)

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 09/30/2023

Size of the Grant: 

  • Land Acquisition: $150,000
  • Planning and Ordinance Assistance: $25,000
  • Marcellus Shale Legacy Funding: $40,000

Details:

The York County Open Space and Land Preservation Grant Program can provide grant funding to municipalities, York County Parks Department and other County agencies, school districts, and charitable non-profit organizations with 501(c) status. Organizations should be in existence for at least five consecutive years. Funding can be used to purchase land or to update local plans and ordinances to reflect current planning practices and address emerging trends that support open space protection.

Funding Information

  • Land Acquisition
    • The maximum annual grant request is $150,000 (at the discretion of the grant selection committee) and a lifetime project cap has been set at $300,000.
  • Planning and Ordinance Assistance
    • $25,000 maximum grant. For multi-municipal applications, each municipality may request the individual maximum grant request and combine the funding for a multi-municipal application. The total project lifetime cap is $25,000 per municipality.
  • Marcellus Shale Legacy Funding
    • $40,000 maximum grant (subject to discussion by grant selection committee). The total project lifetime cap is $60,000.

Eligible Activities

Financial assistance under the York County Open Space and Land Preservation Grant Program fall under three separate categories: Land Acquisition; Planning and Ordinance Assistance; or Marcellus Shale Legacy funds.

  • Land Acquisition
    • The York County Open Space and Land Preservation Grant Program will assist applicants with the purchase of properties that provide public access and one or more of the following benefits.
      • Natural Resource Protection – lands that protect the water or other natural resources or provide wildlife habitat.
      • Parkland – lands that provide active or passive recreational opportunities for current and future generations.
    • Grants may only be used to purchase land. Grants may not be used to acquire structures or improvements. Any land occupied by structures or future building sites must be subtracted from the total land area submitted for funding.
  • Planning and Ordinance Assistance
    • The York County Open Space and Land Preservation Grant Program will enable applicants to conduct planning studies, update comprehensive plans and ordinances to address the County Comprehensive Plan’s open space, land protection, sensitive natural features, and agricultural protection related goals and objectives.
  • Marcellus Shale Legacy Funding
    • The York County Open Space and Land Preservation Grant Program – Marcellus Shale Legacy funds will assist applicants with planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, natural areas, community conservation and beautification projects, community and heritage parks and water resource management. Funds may be used to acquire lands for recreational or conservation purposes and land damaged or prone to drainage by storms or flooding.
    • Even though these funds can also be used for planning and acquisition, priority will be given to the development, rehabilitation and repair projects. Efforts will be made to select a variety of projects that are disbursed throughout the County.
    • Projects related to park, recreational and trail improvements that are funded with
    • Marcellus Shale Legacy funds, shall be open to and accessible to the public.

Eligibility Criteria 

The following entities are eligible to apply for funding under the York County Open Space and Land Preservation Grant Program:

  • Any municipality in York County, PA. Multi-municipal applications are eligible and encouraged.
  • Charitable Non-profit Organizations with 501(c) status that have an identified focus on natural resource protection, land preservation, parks/recreation, or conservation. Organizations should be in existence for at least five consecutive years.  (Any Non-profit with 501(c) status can apply for Marcellus Shale Legacy Funds.)
  • York County Parks Department
  • Other County Agencies – Marcellus Shale Funding only
  • School Districts – Marcellus Shale Funding only.

For more information, visit YCPC.

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