For the last 20 years, PECO, in partnership with Natural Lands, has supported local municipalities and nonprofits across Greater Philadelphia that are doing their part to positively impact our regional landscape through innovative green projects through the PECO Green Region Open Space Program.

PECO has provided nearly $3 million in Green Region Open Space grants to almost 400 different nonprofits and municipalities since 2004. Some of the projects PECO has supported include:

• Sustainable Wissahickon Trails Initiative, a multi-year campaign launched in 2006 to create a sustainable trail network.
• GATHER SPACE, a centralized gathering space for all residents of Rutledge Borough in Delaware County in 2021.
• Thomas Jefferson University’s Park in a Truck, an initiative focused on creating a collaborative, open-source framework for under-resourced Philadelphia neighborhoods to organize, plan, and build a network of new community green spaces in 2022.

“For 20 years, we’ve been inspired by our local nonprofits and municipalities, and their steadfast commitment to greening our region,” said Dave Velazquez, PECO’s President and CEO. “Green spaces are key for healthy, vibrant communities, bringing neighbors together and reinforcing what we know to be true: that when we invest in green projects, we are creating a better quality of life for all. We are pleased to support these initiatives that will continue to positively impact generations to come.”

In 2024, the work continues as PECO announced the 22 recipients of a combined $160,000 in funding through PECO’s Green Region Open Space Program. The 22 funded projects include:

• In Bucks County, an installation of a rooftop solar system parcel on the Middletown Community Park Barn.
• In Chester County, enhancement of the new Shaw’s Bridge Park Canoe Launch, the first formally branded and designated launch site of the Brandywine Creek Water Trail; and a township-wide tree planting initiative for Upper Uwchlan. 
• In Delaware County, completion of a new Borough of Folcroft Municipal Complex on Ashland Avenue; completion of the Bush Hill Farm Meadow Trails project in Concord Township; and installation of lighting at an East Lansdowne Elementary School field for sports, community, and recreational events.
• In Montgomery County, tree planting along a Towamencin Township trail; and installation of sidewalk, crosswalk, and pedestrian-level lighting on Gravel Pike and Walnut Street in Green Lane Borough.
• In Philadelphia County, expansion of the Pulaski Zeralda Community Garden in Germantown; construction of new, all-natural features at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education’s Tall Trees Nature Playscape that encourage nature play and providing ADA access; and increased accessibility at The Blackwell Community Park & Garden.
• In York County, development of the first park located on Main Street in Delta Borough.

“Natural Lands is proud to have been PECO’s partner in administering the Green Region Open Space Program since its inception in 2004,” said Estelle Wynn Dolan, a land protection specialist at Natural Lands and the PECO Green Region Open Space Program administrator. “For the duration of our partnership, PECO has been committed to getting funding into the communities they serve by supporting the enhancement of natural areas that we all can enjoy. Over the last 20 years, we’ve had the privilege to witness the completion of almost 400 natural area improvement projects, including tree plantings, streambank restorations, pollinator gardens, and trail feasibility studies, as well as improved access to nature through the construction and rehabilitation of ADA-accessible pathways, boat ramps, and other facilities — all projects that are critical to our quality of life.”

Totaling $160,000, the full list of 2024 grantees include:

1. Bucks County: Middletown Township, Bristol Borough, Plumstead Township
2. Chester County: East Bradford Township, East Pikeland Township, Upper Uwchlan Township, Thornbury Township
3. Delaware County: Borough of Folcroft, Concord Township, Darby Borough, Borough of East Lansdowne, Ridley Township  
4. Montgomery County: Upper Dublin Township, Towamencin Township, Lower Gwynedd Township, Green Lane Borough
5. Philadelphia: Neighborhood Gardens Trust, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Root Catalyst, Center City District Foundation, Community Health and Gardens 
6. York County: Delta Borough 

Investing in green infrastructure helps cities manage the effects of climate change, while also creating and supporting healthier communities. The increased use of open greenspace has been linked to positive physical and mental health outcomes, and the expansion of greenspace in urban areas and across the region helps mitigate harmful impacts from air pollutants and climate-related health risks while enhancing the quality of life of residents. 

The PECO Green Region Open Space Program is a key component to PECO’s Path to Clean goal, which includes a dedication to promoting a clean energy future and protecting the environment by promoting pollination, migration, and sustainability, and the process of managing and preserving open spaces, tree planting, and the urban and rural tree canopy across PECO’s six-county service territory.

Learn more about how PECO powers the environment in our communities.