Delaware County will be opening the application period for a fourth round of Delco Green Ways, the popular municipal grant program for open space, trails, and recreation, on Monday, July 31. The three-year old grant program provides funding to municipalities — and non-profit organizations working with municipalities — for projects that advance the County’s 2035 Open Space, Recreation and Greenway Plan goals: Conserve, Enhance, Connect. The Green Ways Grant program, first introduced in 2020, accomplishes this by funding projects at the municipal level, empowering and championing community-based efforts to beautify and conserve green spaces, trails, and parks for residents of all ages, interests, and abilities. Building upon the success of the previous rounds, Grant Round Four has been further tailored to meet the unique needs of Delaware County’s people and places, with improvements and enhancements driven by the Delco Green Space Task Force (GSTF). Eligible municipal or multi-municipal projects may include fee simple acquisition of land, conservation or trail easements on private land, capital improvements to existing public parkland, regreening efforts, construction of trails, and planning services such as comprehensive open space plans, feasibility studies, design, and engineering plans. A more comprehensive list of eligible project types and all complete program guidelines, along with a sample of the grant applications, will be made available on the Delco Green Ways Grant Program web page, located at www.delcopa.gov/greenways, prior to the start of the July 31 application period.

Source: Delaware County; 7/14/2023