PECO Green Region Open Space Program Grant

Recognizing that open space in communities is crucial to the quality of lives, PECO has committed to supporting organizations in southeastern Pennsylvania with their ongoing efforts to preserve, protect, and improve public spaces and increase collective tree cover. PECO designed the Green Region Open Space Program to assist local communities in these efforts by providing funding for expenses not otherwise covered by state or county programs. Underlying the Green Region Program is PECO’s endorsement of enhancing tree cover and equitable access to the outdoors through deliberate planning for open space protection as a means to encourage the wisest use of scarce resources

Eligible Projects and Expenses:

• Improving municipal, organizational, or regional recreational authority-owned open spaces, not including property owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Funds may be used for habitat improvements, such as improving or installing woodlands, riparian buffers, and meadows. Funds may also be used for the installation of capital improvements for passive recreation, such as trails, boardwalks, kiosks, observation platforms, and the installation of LED and energy-efficient lighting. Fund expenditures may also include planning costs or fees for consultants such as landscape architects, park designers, botanists, and engineers.
• Developing or updating open space plans and feasibility studies. Expenses may include consultant fees, costs associated with obtaining public input (hall rental, advertising, etc.), and publication costs.
• Acquisition (by purchase or donation) of parcels of land to be used for open space. Expenses may include purchase costs, legal or consultant fees, surveying, environmental assessments, and appraisals. 
• Acquisition (by purchase or donation) of conservation easements (also known as “development rights”). Eligible expenses may include purchase costs, legal or consultant fees, surveying, environmental assessments, and appraisals.
• In an effort to expand tree canopy in southeastern Pennsylvania, PECO encourages applicants to incorporate tree plantings into their application’s project proposal, including details such as the number and species of trees to be planted. While such endeavors are not a required element of the grant application, Review Committee members will look favorably upon their inclusion in the application.