Erie Zoo, Asbury Woods, snowmobile clubs among state grant recipients

Staff report
·4 min read

More than 300 projects across the state including more than a dozen across northwestern Pennsylvania will share in $70 million in Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant funding.

The grants are administered through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and funded through a number of state and federal sources. Grants are meant to help "revitalize communities, create new recreational opportunities and conserve natural spaces."

More: Why you should take a winter hike at Erie County's overlooked public park

“Our outdoor places are among the things that tie us all together — a place to meet for our health, for enjoyment, for recreation and a draw for tourists,” Gov. Tom Wolf said Thursday in a prepared statement announcing the grants. “Many of the projects being funded — improvements to local parks, trails, and river access — bring these amenities closer to home, requiring less driving and expense to experience at a time during the pandemic when these opportunities are recognized as critical to our well-being.”

The Asbury Woods Partnership will receive a $271,000 grant to put toward the purchase of approximately 52 acres in an expansion of Asbury Woods Park.
The Asbury Woods Partnership will receive a $271,000 grant to put toward the purchase of approximately 52 acres in an expansion of Asbury Woods Park.

Some regional highlights:

Erie County

• Asbury Woods Partnership, Inc., $271,000, payment toward the acquisition of approximately 52 acres in Millcreek Township for an addition to Asbury Woods Park.

More: Asbury Woods reclaims overgrown trail

• Corry City, $73,000, development of the Corry Junction Greenway Trail. Work to include construction of approximately 0.4 miles of trail from Route 6 to Elk Street and a trailhead; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

• Erie Zoological Society, $500,000, rehabilitation of Erie Zoo giraffe exhibit. Work to include renovation and construction of the giraffe exhibit and public viewing structures; installation of fencing, signage and utilities; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

More: Erie Zoo loses accreditation; eligible to reapply in September 2022

• McKean Area Snowmobile Club, Inc., $27,200, purchase of equipment to construct and maintain approximately 32 miles of snowmobile trails in Erie County.

• Presque Isle Snowmobile Club, Inc., $27,600, purchase of equipment to construct and maintain approximately 36 miles of snowmobile trails in Millcreek, Greenfield, and Summit townships and Waterford Borough.

• Springfield Township, $70,000, rehabilitation of Raccoon Creek Park. Work to include construction of pedestrian walkway; installation of play equipment with required safety surfacing; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

• Wales Sno-Drifters, Inc., $38,200, purchase of equipment to construct and maintain approximately 50 miles of snowmobile trails in Greene Township and Wattsburg Borough.

• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, $105,000, restoration of 558 feet of Elk Creek in Girard Township. Work to include stream bank stabilization; installation of in-stream habitat structures; landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

More: Anglers credited with saving fellow fisherman on Elk Creek in Erie County

• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, $327,000, payment toward a conservation easement on approximately 357 acres in Union Township for critical habitat protection and passive recreation.

Crawford County

• Clear Lake Authority, $500,000, development of the East Branch Trail in Sparta and Steuben townships. Work to include construction of approximately 3 miles of trail from Route 89 to Fish Flats Road in Sparta Township and approximately 2 miles of trail from Station Road to Greytown Road in Steuben Township; rehabilitation of the Sportsman Road Bridge in Sparta Township; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

• Meadville City, $105,500, rehabilitation of Bicentennial Park. Work to include construction of pedestrian walkway and parking area; installation of play equipment with required safety surfacing and fencing; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

• Woodcock Borough, $13,900, prepare a master site development plan for 45-acre Heist Park.

Venango county

• American Rivers Inc., $28,000, restoration of Allegheny River at Holeman Island in President Township. Work to include construction of fish passage; dam removal; stream and wetland restoration; landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

• ESF Oil City, $34,000, rehabilitation and further development of Oil City Marina along the Allegheny River. Work to include renovation of comfort station; construction of pedestrian walkways; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, $27,000, payment toward the acquisition of approximately 33 acres in Sugarcreek Borough for watershed protection and passive recreation.

Find the full list of grants at https://bit.ly/3pDipWv

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Zoo, Asbury Woods among state grant recipients