PHILADELPHIA (February 28, 2022) – PECO is awarding $160,000 in Green Region Grants to 21 area municipalities and nonprofits in 2022, supporting a number of important initiatives with a focus on tree preservation and projects that enhance environmental equity. These grant awards reflect PECO’s Path to Clean goals to protect and preserve the environment and combat climate change.
“Supporting our communities and local environmental initiatives remains a critical focus area for PECO,” said Mike Innocenzo, PECO president and CEO. “Every year, our Green Region Open Space Program allows us to increase our support of creating open spaces, expanding our region’s urban canopy, and working alongside our partners and our customers to combat climate change. I continue to salute our partners for their role in beautifying our communities and our shared pathway to a clean energy future.”
PECO’s Path to Clean includes a goal to reduce operations-driven emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Through this goal, PECO is also working in partnership with local communities on environmental efforts beyond the emissions reduction goal, including open space preservation and promoting environmental equity in the Greater Philadelphia region. The Green Region Open Space Program is just one example of these initiatives.
PECO’s Green Region Open Space Program, the company’s municipal environmental grant program, has provided nearly $2.6 million in grants to date–and for 2022, PECO is providing a total of $160,000 in funding to 21 area municipalities and nonprofits to boost their open space projects. With an eye on tree preservation and projects that enhance environmental equity and increase community access to shared spaces, the 2022 grants will be used to begin or continue projects that will improve sustainability across the Greater Philadelphia region, including:
In Bucks County, tree replacement and implementation of a tree line buffer at the Municipal Complex in Bristol Township, and the “Firefighters’ Park Land Acquisition Project,” making Firefighters’ Park the sixth-largest recreational facility in the Township and providing additional passive and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
In Chester County, tree planting and replacements, enhancing an open space in Anson B. Nixon Park, and creation of a community gathering space at Larchbourne Park.
In Delaware County, park improvements, increased tree planting, and design of the GATHER SPACE in Triangle Park envisioned to be an accessible, multi-generational communal space for residents of all ages and abilities to come together.
In Montgomery County, habitat restorations at Briar Bush Nature Center and tree re-planting and park improvements at Sussell Park.
In Philadelphia County, tree canopy restoration in Pennypack on the Delaware Park and Fleuhr Park, and an environmental justice and public health initiative with Thomas Jefferson University that creates a collaborative, open-source framework for under-resourced neighborhoods to organize, plan, and build a network of new community green spaces.
In York County, the development of the first park on Main Street in Delta Borough.
Totaling $160,000, the full list of 2022 grantees include:
Bucks County: Bristol Township, Middletown Township, and Penndel Borough
Chester County: Kennett Area Park Authority, Penn Township, Westtown Township, and East Coventry Township
Delaware County: Ridley Township, Nether Providence Township, Rutledge Borough, and Middletown Township
Montgomery County: Abington Township, Upper Dublin Township, Upper Pottsgrove Township, East Norriton Township, and Upper Moreland Township
Philadelphia: Riverfront North Partnership, Norris Square Neighborhood Project, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, and Thomas Jefferson University
York County: Delta Borough
PECO’s Green Region Open Space Program is executed in partnership with Natural Lands, the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest land conservation organization, having preserved more than 125,000 acres, including 42 nature preserves and one public garden. For more information about the PECO Green Region
Open Space Program, visit https://natlands.org/what-we-do/growing-greener-communities/peco-green-region/?utm_campaign=PECO%20News%20Release&utm_medium=email&utm_content=205307822&utm_source=hs_email.
