Reference: Recreation

Federal and State Statutes and Programs

Resource Focus: Recreation

DELAWARE

The State Park Endowment, Del. Code Title 29, ? 6102A(e)

Purpose
A special fund appropriation was established from the Twenty-First Century Fund in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Parks and Recreation for the purpose of captial-related projects, including minor captial improvements, to preserve the quality of the state's parks system and enhance recreational opportunities.

Policy
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control shall include a list of proposed projects to be funded by the interest earned or investment yield of the State Park Endowment in its annual capital improvements request for approval by the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Improvements Programs.
 

PENNSYLVANIA

The Keystone 93 Program

Purpose
Through the KEY 93 program, communities can receive matching funds for Technical Assistance Grant projects to develop master site development plans, comprehensive recreation and park plans, feasibility studies, county natural areas inventories and special projects such as peer-to-peer studies and circuit rider initiatives.

Policy
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) administers both state and federal grant programs that provide funding to local governments for several types of park, recreation and conservation projects. The primary source of federal funding is the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program. The primary source of state funding is the new Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (KEY 93) program. Both the LWCF and KEY 93 programs provide 50/50 matching grants:

  • To acquire land for park areas, greenways, open space preservation, and natural areas protection.
  • To develop and rehabilitate areas and facilities for public park and recreation uses.

KEY 93 also contains a special component for small communities that provides 100 percent funding for professional fee costs and project materials to be matched by locally supplied or volunteer labor. This component is for communities with a population of 5,000 or less, and the maximum grant amount is $20,000.