10 park projects in Montgomery and Chester counties get $1.5 million in state funding

More than $1.5 million in state grants were announced this week for several park improvement projects in the region.

• In Pottstown, $75,000 has been awarded to assist with the on-site remediation efforts to allow Pollock Park to re-open after it was shut down in 2017 when pollution was discovered in the soil.

• In Upper Pottsgrove, the Hollenbach Park Trail Project has been rewarded $200,000 to develop a new trail on Hollenbach Park land which will serve residents of multiple areas and the students of Pottsgrove Middle School.

• In New Hanover Township, the Hickory Park Renovation Project has been rewarded $200,000 to continue its enhancements of the park’s entrance, the parking lot, and various improvements to park amenities.

• In Royersford Borough, $92,000 was awarded to the Royersford Victory Park Redevelopment Project. The funding will continue the improvements the park has seen in recent years and will be used to fund accessible pathways throughout the park, including accessible picnic tables and benches, and accessible porous play surfaces with underdrains, along with replacements of deteriorated playground equipment.

• In East Pikeland Township, $197,500 has been awarded for the Hidden River Park and Preserve Phase 1. The township acquired the 115-acre park off Spring City Road in 2019. Funding will go toward creating an ADA-approved walking trail, nature play area, outdoor education and performance space, pavilions, disc golf course, restoration of meadowland, and more.

• In Spring City Borough, $109,750 has been awarded to the Brown Street Park Accessibility & Safety Improvements Project. Funding will be used to complete updates that meet ADA accessibility standards, including a path from new ADA parking spaces to the picnic pavilion and playground, replacement of the mulch playground surface with a safe play surface, modifications to benches, and the addition of all-inclusive play equipment.

• In Perkiomen Township, the Highland-Huber Park Project will receive $250,000 to construct improvements which include ADA-accessible trails, a new playground, and a community garden.

• In Upper Providence, $200,000 was awarded for the Anderson Farm Park Loop Trail.

• In Lower Providence, $78,000 was awarded to the National Audubon Society, John James Audubon Center for the John James Audubon Center for a  green stormwater infrastructure project.

• In Lower Salford Township, the Yoder Sidewalk Connections Project has been awarded $200,000 to help fund the building of new sidewalks to close crucial gaps in Lower Salford’s trail network.

Funding for these grants came through Act 13, the oil and gas tax, and the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

“Our parks provide important green public spaces in our communities,” said state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-146th Dist. “With this state support, we will continue the great progress we’ve seen in Royersford’s Victory Park and drive a new vision for an improved Pollock Park in Pottstown when it reopens.

“Recreational spaces are a crucial component in building strong communities,” said state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, R-24th dist., who represents several of the areas where projects were funded.

“Believing all three of these projects were a big win for all three townships, I advocated quite heavily for their approval,” said state Rep. Donna Scheuren, R-147th Dist., who  represents Upper Pottsgrove, New Hanover and Lower Salford “These grants provide funding to help make open space more enjoyable by improving our area parks and by adding additional connections to sidewalks and trails.”

“Our parks are for everyone, and these projects will make that truer than ever,” said state Rep. Paul Friel, D-26th Dist., who represents East Pikeland and Spring City. “I applaud East Pikeland and Spring City officials for their work to make sure people of all ages and abilities are able to enjoy their outdoor community spaces, and that they offer a wide range of recreational activities.”

“When the state funds beautification projects like these, everyone benefits,” said state Rep. Joe Webster, D-150th Dist. “Making outdoor areas accessible will encourage more people to get outside and explore what our area has to offer. I look forward to the completion of these plans and applaud the Upper Providence Township and the National Audubon Society for working to make our area appealing to both our residents and our visitors.”