In September, Upper Dublin Township received a 2019 Greenways, Trails and Recreation Grant in the amount of $120,000 through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (PA Department of Community & Economic Development) which is being used towards the phase 1 conversion of a township-owned golf course (Twining Valley/Upper Dublin Golf Course) into a public park/preserve with the construction of 5 miles of multi-purpose trails on the property and expansion of the existing parking lot.

Today, Upper Dublin Township announced that they have received a 2019 Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) through the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Upper Dublin Township was 1 of 9 in Montgomery County that was awarded a grant. Other communities throughout the Commonwealth also received grant money.

This $200,000 grant will be used towards the conversion of the Twining Valley Park property into a public park/preserve with the construction of 5 miles of multi-purpose trails on the property. The trails will create access, provide recreation and establish a key infrastructure element that connects the two bisected parcels that make up the property. This project is a unique opportunity for Upper Dublin to increase its accessible public open space by a significant percentage and provide a safe place for local residents to ride their bikes, run, or walk on a comprehensive trail network. The Township hopes to begin work in the summer of 2020.

DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation (BRC) assists local governments and recreation and conservation organizations with funding for projects related to parks, recreation and conservation. More information about the grant program can be found at HERE. 

Funding sources for the grant program include the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Key 93), the Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF), the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program (HA).

With the award of this grant, the total grant funding secured for the phase 1 conversion of the property is $520,000. The Township had previously received $200,000 from the Montgomery County Commissioners as part of the Montco 2040: A Shared Vision grant program and $120,000 from the DCED Greenways, Trails and Recreation Grant. Upper Dublin Township is still awaiting notice on one other grant application.