Walking, biking, and skiing. Fishing and hunting. Playing sports. Picnicking. Simply enjoying the quiet and peace of nature. Any type of outdoor recreation requires land. The Keystone Fund helps people acquire the green spaces needed to experience the outdoors, whether they are narrow ribbons of land for trails or wide open spaces for hunting (see Conservation).
Once the land is secured, the Keystone Fund helps people develop the land as appropriate to the activity. The Keystone Fund supports construction and installation of a wide range of recreational facilities that reflect the broad and varying needs of communities, including:
- Trails and paths
- Playgrounds
- Ballfields
- Pools
- Picnic areas
- Boat launches
- Recreation centers
As of 2019, the Keystone Fund* has supported:
- 3,700+ community park development projects, including ballfields, playgrounds, pools, picnic areas, and recreation centers
- 645+ trail projects for walking, bicycling, and other recreation uses
Each dollar of Keystone Fund support typically leverages $3.13 in direct local and county investments in local recreation and park projects.
*Together with other funding streams that fall under the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnerships Program.
- Keystone Investment: $361,000
Park upgrades can be costly and feel overwhelming, especially for smaller municipalities. DCNR’s Small Communities Program caters to these municipalities. It offers lower-match grants for municipalities with populations of 5,000
After more than a year of construction, state and local leaders recently cut the ribbon on the new Chutes and Ladders Playground at Reservoir Park in Harrisburg. “Our parks are