HARRISBURG, Pa. (March 11) — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is excited to announce the first round of grants awarded in 2024 through the Boating Facility Grant Program.
Through this program, the PFBC provides grants for the planning, acquisition, development, expansion, and rehabilitation of public boating facilities located on the waters of the Commonwealth. The goal of the program is to ensure Pennsylvania's recreational boaters have convenient and high quality boating facilities. Funds for this program are derived primarily from boat registration fees and state motorboat fuels taxes. In certain instances, federal aid is also used, if appropriate.
"Pennsylvania continues to prove itself as a leader in connecting people to the water," said Paul Littman, Director of the PFBC's Bureau of Boating. "Through our Boating Facilities Grant Program, more communities across the Commonwealth are realizing the benefits of improving their existing access areas or developing new places that local residents and visiting recreational boaters can enjoy."
Grants being announced at this time will be dedicated to projects for which the PFBC has awarded $100,000 or less, and include:
Delaware River Watershed
- Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art; Design and Construction of Canoe/Kayak Access, Brandywine Creek, Delaware County
- City of Allentown; Canal Park Boat Launch Upgrade Site Plan and Engineering Design, Lehigh River, Lehigh County
- Schuylkill River Development Corporation; Boating Facility Feasibility Study, Schuylkill River, Philadelphia County
Ohio River Watershed
- Boroughs of Tarentum and Cheswick; Master Plan for Two Fishing and Boating Accesses, Allegheny River, Allegheny County
- Borough of Union City; Construction of Canoe/Kayak Access, South Branch of French Creek, Erie County
- Carnegie Science Center; Boating Facility Feasibility Study, Three Rivers Heritage Trail, Allegheny County
Susquehanna River Watershed
- South Middleton Township; Design and Construction of Canoe/Kayak Access, Yellow Breeches Creek, Cumberland County
Statewide:
- Pennsylvania Lake Management Society; Mobile Boat Cleaning Station
While the PFBC accepted grant applications from anywhere in the Commonwealth, special consideration was given to projects that will provide public boating access in the Delaware River watershed thanks to the availability of additional funding through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund.
The Fund, created in 2018, is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to achieve the goals of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act. The Act guides and supports federal, state, regional, and local partners to collaboratively identify, prioritize, and implement habitat restoration and conservation activities within the watershed.
Additional Boating Facility Grants, which include more than $100,000 in funding from the PFBC, will be announced later in 2024, pending required approval from the PFBC Board of Commissioners.
The PFBC reminds boaters that the annual cold weather life jacket requirement remains in effect. Anyone aboard a boat less than 16 feet, including all kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, is required to wear a life jacket from November 1 through April 30.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Mike Parker
Communications Director
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
(717)585-3076
michparker@pa.gov