In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the PECO Green Region Open Space Program, PECO has announced that 20 municipalities and nonprofits across southeastern Pennsylvania will receive more than $200,000 in grants to preserve, protect, and improve open space in the region.
As part of this milestone, PECO launched a separate, one-time $50,000 bonus grant opportunity to further support environmental and community-driven initiatives. The recipient of this special grant is Delta Borough in York County, which will use the funds to upgrade the lighting system at the Mason Dixon Fairgrounds. The project includes the installation of 14 energy-efficient, pole-mounted LED lights around the racetrack, replacing the existing system that consumed nearly twice as much energy. The upgrade will significantly reduce energy use, lower operational costs, and cut greenhouse gas emissions, advancing both local sustainability goals and PECO’s Path to Clean initiative.
“In honor of Green Region’s 20th year, we wanted to do something special, and this bonus grant allows us to support a project that demonstrates the power of smart investments in energy efficiency and community spaces,” said David Velazquez, PECO president and CEO. “PECO’s Green Region Open Space Program exemplifies our commitment to act boldly and power a cleaner and brighter future by investing in open space, tree preservation, and environmental equity across our region. Congratulations to all the grant recipients for their impactful work in protecting and enhancing our communities.”
This year, 20 grant recipients will continue this important work across southeastern Pennsylvania. The full list of 2024-2025 grantees and their funding amounts include:
- Bucks County ($30,000 total for 3 winners): Lower Makefield Township, Warminster Township, and Bristol Township
- Chester County ($30,000 total for 4 winners): Caln Township, New Garden Township, West Bradford Township, West Goshen Township
- Delaware County ($30,000 total for 4 winners): Upland Borough, Radnor Township, Parkside Borough, Upper Chichester Township
- Montgomery County ($30,000 total for 4 winners): Pottstown Borough, Hatboro Borough, Limerick Township, Upper Gwynedd Township
- Philadelphia County ($31,300 total for 4 winners): COSACOSA Art at Large, Inc, Riverfront North Partnership, First Stop Recovery, HACE
- York County (Bonus winner: $50,000 total): Delta Borough
In partnership with Natural Lands, PECO’s Green Region Open Space Program has awarded more than $3.5 million in funding for nearly 400 individual open space improvement projects. These investments help preserve and enhance local green spaces, providing more communities with access to nature. Among other enhancements, these grants have funded the planting of almost 9,000 trees, supported more than 150 upgrades to local parks, built and improved more than 50 miles of trails, and improved access to natural areas.
“Natural Lands is honored to have administered PECO’s Green Region Open Space Program for more than two decades,” said Oliver Bass, president of Natural Lands. “This program has benefitted the Greater Philadelphia area in countless ways—even beyond the communities that have received grant funding for environmental projects. We all benefit from cooler air, cleaner water, and reduced flooding, which are just a few results of open space preservation and stewardship efforts.”
For more information about eligibility and the grant application process for the PECO Green Region Open Space Program and its partner, Natural Lands, the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest land conservation organization, visit: https://natlands.org/greenregion.
