Provider
Natural Lands
Application Deadline
October 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Summary
Natural Lands is pleased to administer the PECO Green Region Open Space Program. Recognizing that open space in our communities is a crucial element of the quality of our lives, the PECO program awards grants for southeastern Pennsylvania municipal and non-profit (within the City of Philadelphia) efforts to preserve, protect, and improve open spaces. Over the program’s 20 years, PECO has awarded more than $3 million to over 400 open space improvement projects.
Any township, borough, city, or regional recreational authority within PECO’s service territory in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or York Counties is welcome to apply for funding. Eligible applicants must receive gas and/or electric service from PECO.
Grants are awarded in amounts up to $10,000, and may be used to fund up to 50% of a project, with 50% or greater of project expenses covered by cash match.
Recipients of PECO Green Region funding awards from the 2025 Round are ineligible to apply for the 2026 Round. Recipients of PECO Green Region funding awards from the 2024 Round and prior are eligible to apply to the 2026 Round once their prior award is officially closed out.
Common Eligible Projects
Eligible Projects and Expenses:
- Improving open space owned by municipalities, organizations, or regional recreational authorities, not including property owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Funds may be used for habitat improvements, such as improving or installing woodlands, riparian buffers, and meadows. Funds may also be used for the installation of capital improvements for passive recreation, such as ADA accessibility improvements, trails, boardwalks, kiosks, observation platforms, and installation of LED and energy efficient lighting. Fund expenditures may also include planning costs or fees for consultants, such as landscape architects, park designers, botanists, and engineers.
- For the purposes of this program, passive recreation refers to activities that place minimal stress on a site’s resources and as a result provide ecosystem service benefits, such as improved water and air quality.
- Developing or updating open space plans and feasibility studies. Expenses may include consultant fees, costs associated with obtaining public input (hall rental, advertising, etc.), and publication costs.
- Acquisition (by purchase or donation) of parcels of land to be used for open space. Expenses may include purchase costs, legal or consultant fees, surveying, environmental assessments, and appraisals.
- Acquisition (by purchase or donation) of conservation easements (also known as “development rights”). Eligible expenses may include purchase costs, legal or consultant fees, surveying, environmental assessments, and appraisals.
- In an effort to expand tree canopy in southeastern Pennsylvania, PECO encourages applicants to incorporate tree plantings into their application’s project proposal, including details such as number and species of trees to be planted. While such endeavors are not a required element of the grant application, Review Committee members will look favorably upon their inclusion in the application.
More Information
https://www.natlands.org/resources/for-municipal-partners/peco-green-region/
