Centre County Park and Forest Projects Receive More Than $1.5M in State Grants

Projects to improve parks, develop forest trails and protect natural resources in Centre County received more than $1.56 million in state grants this week.

State College Borough, Patton Township, College Township and ClearWater Conservancy were among the recipients of $81 million awarded statewide from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2).

“Pennsylvania’s parks and trails give us a place to make memories with our families, take a breath and lower our blood pressure, and just enjoy nature,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a statement. “Our investments are helping Pennsylvania communities improve their parks, build new trails, and help more people enjoy the benefits of nature in every corner of our Commonwealth.”

Here are the projects receiving funding in Centre County.

State College Borough received $377,200 for further development and rehabilitation of High Point Park on West Whitehall Road. While the new High Point Skatepark opened there in the spring, the borough has been planning improvements for the remainder of the 6-acre park. Grant funding will support rehabilitation and resurfacing of the basketball and tennis courts access drive and parking area upgrades, construction of restrooms and a pedestrian walkway, installation of fencing and utilities, ADA access and landscaping.

Patton Township was awarded $300,000 for phase two of Gray’s Woods Park. Work will include construction of pavilion, pedestrian walkways and pedestrian boardwalk, installation of play equipment with safety surfacing, ADA access and landscaping.

College Township received $34,000 to prepare a master site development plan for the 5.2-acre Nittany Orchard Park in Lemont. Grant-funded work will include an electronic written report and site development drawing.

ClearWater Conservancy received four grants:

• $455,200 for the fourth phase of Rothrock State Forest trails in Centre, Huntingdon and Mifflin counties, including construction of approximately 8 miles of trail and rehabilitation and rerouting of approximately 1.7 miles of existing trails. The overall Rothrock project is developing 50 miles of sustainable new trails in the state forest.

• $246,200 to install approximately 8 acres of multifunctional riparian forest buffer in the Susquehanna River Watershed. Work will include landowner outreach and engagement; buffer plantings and post-planting establishment.

• $95,800 for installation of approximately 5.5 acres of meadows and/or upland trees on nonprofit lands along Spring Creek. Work will include landowner outreach and engagement; watershed forestry plantings and post-planting establishment;

• $49,700 to prepare a master site development plan for the 149.1-acre Rhonymeade property in Potter Township. Work will include an electronic written report and site development drawing.

“Our county’s array of nature is one of its greatest attributes, and I’m proud to secure funding to make it even more accessible for everyone,” state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township, said in announcing the grants for State College and Patton Township and the ClearWater riparian forest buffer. “Adding to our robust parks system will keep us active and bolster our community ties, and buffering our forests with more greenery will keep us beautiful. I thank the commonwealth for its ongoing support.”