10/07/2026
"Through the incredible work of DCNR and Secretary Dunn, my Administration will continue investing in outdoor recreation to create good-paying jobs, bring people together, and ensure our neighbors and visitors alike can get outdoors and enjoy our parks and beautiful nature."
—Governor Josh Shapiro
Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced 81 million in 306 grant awards across 60 counties in Pennsylvania. The grants will help communities improve parks, playgrounds, and trails; conserve open space; and restore rivers and watersheds. These awards represent major state investments that provide new recreational opportunities, expand outdoor access, protect natural resources, and strengthen local communities.
The DCNR-administered grants are supported by long-standing state funds established by the General Assembly for dedicated investments in conservation and recreation—most notably the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund, and the Environmental Stewardship Fund. Thank you to our state legislators for continuing the strong commitment to these funds.
Thank you to Governor Shapiro and Secretary Dunn for championing conservation and recreation. Since taking office, the Shapiro Administration has invested $315 million in nearly 1,200 tangible, on-the-ground projects that conserve land important to local communities, restore waterways, and create more access to outdoor recreation—including parks and trails closer to home.
Finally, thank you to the municipalities, nonprofits, and partner organizations who are doing the hard work of improving local resources and quality of life for their communities. Grants such as these—most of which require a 50% match—recognize and amplify that work. By leveraging a community’s resources, programs supported by our state investments have an even bigger and longer-lasting impact.
