Released: September 6, 2023
Application period for popular municipal grant program to close September 29
Delaware County has scheduled two virtual Q & A sessions to assist municipalities (and non-profit organizations working with municipalities) that are interested in applying for a grant from Delco Green Ways, the popular municipal grant program designed to support open space, trails, and recreation at the community level.
The Delco Green Ways Q & A sessions, scheduled for Thursday, September 7, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, September 12, from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., provide applicants an opportunity to ask questions and get critical guidance in navigating the grant application process. Both Q & As will be held via Zoom.
Interested applicants must register to participate in a Q & A session. To register, complete the brief form available at delcopa.gov/session1 for the Sep. 7 session or delcopa.gov/session2 for the September 12 session. A confirmation email, including the Zoom link, will be emailed after completion of the registration process.
Municipalities are reminded that the Delco Green Ways Program User Guide, available at delcopa.gov/greenways, includes a wealth of information about the program and the application process, and includes an FAQ that has been included to address common questions that are asked during past Q & A sessions.
About the Delco Green Ways Grant Program
In 2022, Delco Green Ways provided almost $5M in grants to 24 projects representing 22 municipalities, ranging from $33,667 for a Community Park Swing Canopy and ADA improvements in Edgmont Township, to $250K for rehabilitation of the Observatory Hill Park in Upper Darby, to $500K grants for trail-related projects in Chester City and Middletown and Haverford Townships.
Now in its fourth year, the Delco Green Ways program began accepting grant applications from municipalities and non-profits working with municipalities on August 31, 2023 and will continue to accept applications through September 29, 2023.
Building upon the success of the previous rounds, this fourth round of the Delco Green Ways Grant Program has been tailored to meet the unique needs of Delaware County communities and improved to make the application process easier for municipalities.
The program includes four broad funding categories, including: “Conserve” (open space and natural features); “Enhance” (environmental and recreational uses); “Connect (communities, cultural/historic resources, and natural features); and “Planning & Design” (future amenities in a prioritized, strategic fashion).
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 plans such as comprehensive open space plans, feasibility studies, design, and engineering plans.
A comprehensive list of eligible project types, program guidelines, sample grant applications, and the online application are available on the Delco Green Ways Grant Program website at delcopa.gov/greenways.
Municipalities are reminded that planning projects will need to have their RFP and Consultant selection approved by the Delco Green Ways program before receiving the first award payment. Additionally, a grant match is not required, but submissions including a match (either cash or in-kind services) receive a scoring bonus.
Awards will be announced by Delaware County Council later in the fall.