Ciresi secures $150K grant to repair pedestrian bridge in Pottstown’s Memorial Park
Rep. Joseph Ciresi May 10, 2022 | 2:42 PM
HARRISBURG, May 10 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, secured a grant award of $150,000 to assist Pottstown in repairing a pedestrian bridge at Memorial Park in the borough from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
“Full use of Pottstown’s Memorial Park has been unfortunately hindered since the 2019 destruction of its pedestrian bridge due to major flooding,” Ciresi said. “Thanks to this $150,000 grant and support from DCNR, the pedestrian bridge will be restored, the two halves of Memorial Park divided by the Manatawny Creek will be reunited, and Pottstown residents and visitors will once again be able to enjoy all that the park has to offer.”
The 78-acre Memorial Park serves as the borough’s core park and most visited recreation facility that includes several baseball fields, BMX bicycle racing and skateboarding areas, a dog park, picnic areas, and trails.
“I am grateful to DCNR for this grant award as Pottstown will be able to additionally stabilize 200 feet of stream bank, implement a riparian forest buffer, improve ADA access and make other critical improvements to ensure the environmental and structural safety of the bridge without placing an undue fiscal burden on the municipal Park & Recreation Department’s budget,” Ciresi said.
DCNR provides grants to myriad projects across the commonwealth annually, including a $70 million investment during the 2021-22 fiscal year. Its Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants can fund:
- Planning, acquisition, and development of public parks and recreation areas.
- Motorized and non-motorized trails.
- River conservation and access.
- Heritage areas and facilities.
- Conservation of critical habitat, natural areas, and open space.
Eligible applicants for these grants include counties, municipalities, municipal agencies, nonprofit organizations, state heritage areas, prequalified land trusts, and for-profit enterprises.
Grant funding for the program comes from a variety of state funding sources including Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, Environmental Stewardship Fund, ATV and Snowmobile Management Restricted Accounts, Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program, and federal sources including the Recreational Trails Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. DCNR selects the most appropriate funding source based on the applicant and proposed project.
Pennsylvania has more than 6,100 local parks. Under the administration of Go. Tom Wolf, DCNR has awarded more than $342 million in grants to 1,965 projects across the commonwealth.
Learn more about DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnership Program grants on the DCNR website.