2007 News

April 4 , 2007

Bucks County Commissioners Announce Receipt of $130,000 Conservation Project Grant
Funding Will Provide Comprehensive Update of County Open Space, Parks and Recreation, and Greenway Plans

The Board of Bucks County Commissioners, Chairman Charles H. Martin, James F. Cawley, Esq. and Sandra A. Miller, in conjunction with Chief Operating Officer David M. Sanko, today announced the receipt of a $130,000 state grant that will be used to update the county’s open space, parks and recreation, and greenway plan.

“This funding will allow our experts to implement modern mapping technology and information to perform a thorough analysis of our precious natural areas,” Martin noted.

The grant request, which was prepared by county Open Space Coordinator Kris Kern, was received in full, according to Lynn Bush, executive director of the Bucks County Planning Commission. Furthermore, it was one of just 183 projects approved from an application total of 403 submitted throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

“Our county park plan was prepared in 1986, and while it is still the blueprint for our park program, things have changed that need to be reflected,” Bush explained. “We have acquired several new parks. We have preserved land along the Neshaminy Creek. We also need to formalize trails planning through cooperation with our municipalities.”

Funding for the Bucks County grant was drawn from Growing Greener II, a voter-approved, $625 million bond issue, and Keystone ’93, a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) fund generated from a portion of the realty transfer tax.

Growing Greener II funds are used to clean up rivers and streams; protect natural areas, open spaces and working farms; and to sure up key programs to improve quality of life while revitalizing communities.