DCNR Grants Customer Service Portal

Grant Program Instructions

The DCNR Bureau of Recreation and Conservation (BRC) builds connections between the citizens and the outdoors through recreation enhancement, natural resources conservation and community revitalization efforts. Click here to view our Grant Manual.

Before You Start:

1) Before you start your application, contact your Regional Advisor
2) If you are unsure whether you have a VIN or do not remember the number, you can call the Vendor Data Management Unit at 717-346-2676 (Harrisburg area) or 877-435-7363 (toll free).
3) Please view the 2024 Grant Round Webinar General Overview
4) For first-time applicants and others in need of a refresher on how to apply, see our Instructional Video
5) If you have not logged in or do not have an account, visit the Sign In page to get started.
6) Complete and Submit your grant BEFORE the 4 PM deadline.

If you need additional assistance, feel free to call (1-800-326-7734, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM EST Monday through Friday) or email us at any time.

Available Grant Opportunities

Grant Program

Open Date(s)

Description

Peer and Circuit Rider

Open year round

These grant programs fund projects that help municipalities, counties, multi-municipal partnerships, and council of governments to increase local capacity for recreation, parks and conservation. The Peer program funds projects that, through a collaborative process, focus on a specific need identified by the grantee and its partners. The Circuit Rider program aides in the hiring of a full-time park, recreation or conservation professional whose services are shared by the members of a formal partnership, commission or authority.

Up-coming Grant Opportunities

Grant Program

Open Date(s)

Description

All-Terrain Vehicle and Snowmobile

Opens on 08/01/2024 and Closes on 09/30/2024

All-Terrain Vehicle and Snowmobile projects include the planning, acquisition of land, development, rehabilitation, maintenance, purchase of equipment for maintenance and construction, and development of educational programs related to ATV and/or snowmobile trails and facilities. ONLY ATV or snowmobile projects should be submitted in this category. Funding comes from the ATV Management Restricted Account and the Snowmobile Management Restricted Account as authorized by Act 97 of 2016. There is no match requirement for this funding; however, applications that provide match funding will be given additional consideration.

Community and Watershed Forestry

Opens on 01/21/2025 and Closes on 04/02/2025

The DCNR Community and Watershed Forestry Program provides financial assistance to identify locations in need of riparian forest buffers, lawn conversion, and community tree planting and to design, implement, and establish those practices. Eligible applicants requesting Urban and Community Forestry funding should apply here.

Community Recreation and Conservation Planning

Opens on 01/21/2025 and Closes on 04/02/2025

Planning projects "lay the groundwork" for future land acquisition, development and/or management of parks, recreational facilities, critical habitat, open space, natural areas, greenways, and river/watershed corridors.

DCNR Administrative Projects

Land Acquisition and Conservation

Opens on 01/21/2025 and Closes on 04/02/2025

These projects involve the purchase and/or donation of land for park and recreation areas, greenways, critical habitat areas and/or open space.

Motorized Trails

Opens on 01/21/2025 and Closes on 04/02/2025

Pennsylvania Recreational Trails (PRT) motorized projects. PRT motorized projects include the development, rehabilitation or maintenance of designated routes on land for all types of motorized recreation activities, as well as the purchase or lease of equipment to be used exclusively for the maintenance or construction of land and water trails and trail-related facilities. Funding for projects in this category comes from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and DCNR is the designated state agency to administer this federal program in Pennsylvania. ONLY motorized trail projects applying for PRT funding should be submitted in this category. Match requirements are established at a minimum of 20%.

Non-motorized Trails

Opens on 01/21/2025 and Closes on 04/02/2025

Trail projects include the acquisition, planning, development, rehabilitation, or maintenance of designated routes on land or water for non-motorized recreation activities, as well as the purchase or lease of equipment to be used exclusively for the maintenance or construction of non-motorized land and water trails and non-motorized trail-related facilities.

Park Rehabilitation and Development

Opens on 01/21/2025 and Closes on 04/02/2025

These projects involve the rehabilitation and development of public parks, recreation facilities, greenways and river conservation projects. Eligible applicants requesting funding under the Small Community Program should apply here.

State and Regional Partnerships

Opens on 01/21/2025 and Closes on 04/02/2025

Partnerships projects are collaborative statewide or regional initiatives that help build local, county, regional and statewide capacity to better develop and manage recreation and park facilities and to promote the conservation of natural and heritage resources through plan implementation, education and training.