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. The programs are administered by the Department of Parks and Preservation.
Donor Name: Chester County Department of Parks + Preservation
State: Pennsylvania
County: Chester County (PA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/29/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
Categories
- 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.
Project Period
The contract length is three (3) years from the date the grant is awarded.
Eligible Applicants
For Municipal Acquisition Grants
- Chester County municipalities (individual or joint applicants)
- Land-owning municipal recreation authorities
For Conservancy Acquisition Grants
- 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.
For more information, visit Chester County Department of Parks + Preservation.
