Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 104, North Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Contact: Gretchen Leslie
(voice) 717-772-9101

RENDELL OFFICIALS DISCUSS OPEN-SPACE NEEDS, REWARDS DURING GROWING GREENER BUS TOUR

DCNR Secretary announces $4.8 million in statewide open space grants at site in Chester County

EAST BRADFORD TOWNSHIP: Officials from Governor Edward G. Rendell’s Administration visited Chester County today as part of a statewide bus tour to communities throughout the Commonwealth that can benefit from investments outlined in Growing Greener, the Governor’s plan to promote economic development, create jobs and build a cleaner, safer environment for Pennsylvanians.

With fields, woodlands and a pond as a backdrop, Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said, “Landscapes like this one are becoming a rarity in southeastern Pennsylvania. We must do what we can to stop the loss of our open spaces in order to protect what citizens are saying is important to their quality of life.” 

Secretary DiBerardinis was joined by Kenneth Klothen, executive director for the Center of Local Government Services. They are among six administration officials traveling throughout state this week to educate citizens about Gov. Rendell’s environmental initiative, Growing Greener, which invests in programs that return brownfields and other polluted sites to productive use, protect farmland and open space from development, clean up polluted streams and abandoned mines, improve state and community parks; and promote the use of clean energy.

 The Governor’s plan builds on the work of previous administrations, and relies on a ballot initiative to pass an $800 million bond.  Part of the bond money will help communities to protect open space.  The additional investments have the potential to protect 17,500 acres of threatened community lands across the state. 

As part of today’s stop at Paradise Farm, Secretary DiBerardinis presented a $400,000 grant to the Natural Lands Trust to acquire a conservation easement on 360 acres of the property for open space, stream and habitat protection. It was among 18 grants statewide totaling $4.8 million to help protect more than 4,077 acres of critical habitat and open space across Pennsylvania.

“With 300 acres of open space being developed each day, it is clear we need to do more to protect the landscapes that create attractive places to live and work,” Secretary DiBerardinis said. “Voters have demonstrated their willingness to protect the environment and their quality of life. Our plan helps them achieve their goals.”  

Municipalities across Pennsylvania, particularly those in the southeastern portion of the state, have put before voters efforts to support open space preservation and in most cases asked residents to approve a tax increase to fund the preservation efforts. In 2002 and 2003, a total of 20 referenda to fund open space preservation were approved by voters. In 10 Chester County municipalities, voters specifically approved an increase in their local earned income tax for an annual total of $1.5 million.  In seven municipalities in Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery and Lehigh counties, voters agreed to incur $229 million in new debt to purchase open space.

Recent independent polls show widespread support for passing a bond initiative for Growing Greener. A Madonna Young Opinion Research survey showed strong bipartisan support exists in every area of the state, with more than 71 percent of all Pennsylvanians agreeing with the Governor's proposal.

The Governor has proposed a referendum that would allow voters to approve a bond issue that would be used to fund Growing Greener.

“We simply cannot afford to let this opportunity pass us by,” Klothen said.  “The cost of doing nothing is just too high.  Letting the people decide by referendum whether to improve our communities with projects that sustain existing businesses and attract new businesses and jobs is the American way. We urge you to call your representatives and make your voice heard.”

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EDITOR’S NOTE:  Attached is a list of grant recipients, listed by county.

2004 LAND TRUST GRANTS

Allegheny County
Allegheny Land Trust, $700,000 – to acquire about 51 acres located along Audubon and Magee roads adjacent to Sewickley Hill Park in Sewickley Heights Borough for headwaters protection and to connect two municipal parks.

Bucks County
Heritage Conservancy, $100,000 – to acquire a conservation easement on 19 acres along Sacketts Ford Road and Little Neshaminy Creek in Northampton Township for open space and stream protection; and $240,000 – to acquire a conservation easement on 94 acres along Funks Mill Road in Durham Township for open space and watershed protection.

Bucks and Montgomery counties
Montgomery County Lands Trust, $195,000 – to acquire a conservation easement on 76 acres along Upper Ridge Road in Milford Township, Bucks County, and Marlborough Township, Montgomery County, for open space and watershed protection.

Cameron County
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, $150,000 – to acquire about 370 acres in Driftwood Borough, Cameron County, adjacent to Elk State Forest for habitat protection and open space.

Chester County
Brandywine Valley Association, $50,000 – to acquire about four acres adjoining the Myrick Conservation Center in Pocopson Township for greenway and stream protection.

Natural Lands Trust Inc., $350,000 – to acquire a conservation easement on approximately 198 acres on the northern end of the Great Marsh in East Nantmeal Township for headwaters and habitat protection; and  $400,000 - to acquire a conservation easement on seven parcels totaling approximately 360 acres along Ravine, Valley Creek and Skelp Level Roads, in East Bradford Township, for stream and habitat protection.

Crawford County
Conneaut Lake-French Creek Valley Conservancy, $77,000 – to acquire an easement on 141 acres along French Creek off of Route 6/19 in West Mead Township for stream and habitat protection. 

Erie County
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, $50,000 – to acquire easements on about 720 acres mostly along French Creek in Erie, Crawford and Venango counties to protect critical riparian corridors.

Lancaster County
Lancaster County Conservancy, $200,000 – to acquire 74 acres adjacent to Trout Run Nature Preserve at Pennsy and Sigman roads in Martic and Providence townships to preserve a natural area and for watershed protection; and $100,000 – to acquire 88 acres with frontage along Fishing Creek and along Scalpy Hollow and River roads in Dunmore Township for open space and watershed protection.

Monroe County
Natural Lands Trust Inc., $500,000 – to acquire a conservation easement on 1,025 acres along Route 402, in Middle Smithfield Township for natural area protection and recreation.

Pocono Heritage Land Trust, $330,000 – to acquire 398 acres along Route 940 in Paradise Township for greenway, open space and stream protection.

Northampton County
Wildlands Conservancy Inc., $500,000 – to acquire an easement on 217 acres along Saylors Lane off of Route 611 in Williams Township for open space habitat protection.

Westmoreland County
The Conservation Fund, $200,000 – to acquire 34 acres adjacent to Bushy Run Battlefield, along Bushy Run Road in Penn Township  for  preservation of a natural area and greenway.

Wyoming County
Countryside Conservancy, $150,000 – to acquire 24 acres in Clinton Township off State Road 2012 on the South Branch of the Tunkhannock Creek for watershed protection and preservation.

York County
Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County, $500,000 – to acquire 131 acres near the Susquehanna River in Lower Windsor Township for preservation and open space.