DELCO GREEN ways grant program

Impressive things are still happening in Delaware County!  As the Delco Green Ways Grant Program drives the future of open spaces, trails, and recreation for Delco residents, it elevates the County’s parks and open space system into a unified whole. Thank you to all those who dedicated the time needed to prepare applications for funding from this year’s Delco Green Ways Grant Program.

The response to our call for applications for Round 4 of the Green Ways Program was as inspiring as it has been in past rounds! This year the County received 47 grant applications from 39 communities and 2 nonprofit organizations, requesting grants totaling over $10 million. The Grant Evaluation Team thoroughly reviewed and discussed all the applications using the criteria described in the Users’ Guide. This year’s funding recommendations matched previous year’s, and recommendations were focused on the County’s commitment to supporting municipalities with a history of disinvestment, and to ensuring the County’s financial investments were leveraged to the extent practical. In addition to these two priorities, the program continues its support of projects that strategically plan for future needs.

On December 5, County Council reviewed the Team’s funding recommendations to award just under $5 million for projects that will CONSERVE, ENHANCE, and CONNECT communities, while thoughtfully PLANNING & DESIGN-ing for our future.

We are honored to share the news that Council Voted to invest almost $5 million in 22 projects located in 20 municipalities. The Round 4 Green Ways awards breakdown is:

• 13 Enhance Grant projects, totaling $2.83 million

• 4 Connect Grant projects, totaling $1.08 million

• 3 Conserve Grant projects, totaling $0.98 million

• 2 Planning & Design projects, totaling $0.11 million

DELCO GREEN WAYS GRANT ROUND 4 AWARDS

Please download the "Delco Green Ways Grant Round 4 Awards" document for details regarding the Conserve, Connect, Enhance, Planning and Design and Mini-Pros Plan awards. In addition to this detail, we are delighted to share two EPIC Round 4 highlights:

	The County’s grant awards leverage an additional $5.08 million in outside investments, thereby serving as a catalyst for “on the ground” improvements worth approximately $10.08 million, and
	Just over half of round 4’s grant funds are devoted to 12 historically disadvantaged communities, advancing 14 different projects.

July 31, 2023, County opens application period for Round 4 of Delco Green Ways Grant Program.

September 7, 2023, and  September 12, 2023, Information sessions for Questions and Answers about the grant round were held via Zoom.

Click here to view the slide show presentation

Click here to view the recorded session

September 29, 2023 at 5 PM, Application Deadline for Round 4 Delco Green Ways Grant program.

October 2023. Green Ways evaluation team reviews applications and prepares recommendations for Delaware County Council’s consideration.

Late Fall, 2023. Delaware County Council will review the recommendations, make determinations and announce Round 4 grant awards at a subsequent public meeting.

Post Awards. Delaware County Planning Department assists grantees with finalizing grant agreements and provides technical support to move forward.

January – May 2024. Grantees may pursue DCNR & DCED funding using County grant as match.

View Delaware County Green Ways Round 4 Users Guide

want to learn more?

Delaware County’s popular Delco Green Ways Grant Program is the best grant program around to help fund and complete your municipality’s wish-list projects. It provides a breathtaking opportunity to do something transformative for your community while unifying Delaware County’s green spaces, trails, parks and people.

To see additional background information, including examples of previously funded projects and County awards, please visit
Rounds 1,  2, and 3 of the Green Ways Grant Program!