A PARTNERSHIP TO CONSERVE

 HARRISBURG, APRIL 19 – State Sen. Connie Williams announced that Lower Merion Township had received a state grant to aid in its conservation efforts.

 The township received a $35,000 Community Conservation Partnership Program grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to update its comprehensive recreation, park and open space plan.

 "These are called partnership grants, because they represent a partnership between local governments, organizations, land trusts and nonprofits and the state in preserving and conserving open space and greenways," Williams said. "Through the grant program, the state is recognizing and commending the efforts and role of local governments and organizations in preserving and conserving on a local level, and how that impacts overall efforts on the Commonwealth level.

 "Conservation and preservation begin with each individual local project, but their sum total is felt Pennsylvania-wide."

 Funding for these grants comes from several sources, including Growing Greener Bond Fund (Growing Greener 2). The goal of the grant program is to provide financial and technical assistance to local governments, river and trail organizations, land trusts, and other nonprofits for the planning, acquisition and development of park, recreation, conservation and greenways projects.