THE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced the recipients of the 2024 Community Conservation Partnerships Program Fall Grants.

Grants can fund the planning, acquisition and development of public parks; recreation areas; motorized and non-motorized trails; conservation and access to rivers; conservation of open spaces and community forestry and watersheds.

On November 12, the state announced that the following grants had been awarded in Cumberland County:

• Carlisle received $100,000 to prepare a comprehensive recreation, parks and open space plan for the borough.
• Carlisle received $463,700 to coordinate urban and community forestry in the borough and to engage communities in planting trees and building local tree management capacity.
• Hampden Township received $250,000 for the development of Smith Drive Park. The work will include the construction of basketball courts, pickleball courts, pavilions, pedestrian bridges, accesses, parking areas and stormwater management measures, as well as the installation of equipment play area, fitness stations, fencing, lighting and utilities.
• Mechanicsburg received $27,000 to prepare a comprehensive recreation, parks and open space plan for the borough.
• Upper Allen Township received $250,000 to rehabilitate and develop Grantham Park. The work will include the renovation of the access driveway; construction of a gazebo, fishing pier, internal loop trail, pedestrian paths and parking area.
• Central Pennsylvania Conservancy received $184,700 for a conservation easement on approximately 257 acres along Kittatinny Ridge in Jackson Township, Cumberland County and Lower Mifflin Township, Perry County for the protection of the conservation landscape of Kittatinny Ridge.