Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Groups laud effort to pass Growing Greener lll
$640 million in new investment in conservation projects.
MARPLE >> Conservation groups gathered under the cover of an 18th-century barn at Natural Lands’ Hildacy Preserve on Wednesday to celebrate the $640 million in new investment in conservation projects included in this year’s Pennsylvania state budget and to thank the bipartisan group of politicians who helped make it happen.
Officials touted the Growing Greener III, legislative action that would boost Pennsylvania’s Environmental Stewardship Fund, Growing Greener, with funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act pandemic program.
Among the elected officials in attendance included state Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168; state Sens. Tim Kearney, D-26; Amanda Cappelletti, D-17; and Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer, a Democrat.
Natural Lands President Oliver Bass said the investment has been a long-sought goal that will support environmental stewardship in the commonwealth.
Bass pointed out the red bicycle and hardhat hanging in the rafter that once belong to Bill Brainerd, a committed environmentalist. Bass said Brainerd “walked the walk” when it came to the environment, was known for biking around the curvy roads near Hildacy Preserve and for miles to attend meetings through rain, snow and thunderstorms.
He passed away at the age of 84 earlier this year.
“What Bill signified to me more than anything was the importance of doing the hard thing even when people look at you and say why. That’s what we are here to celebrate,” Bass said. “We are here to celebrate the state Legislature, a bipartisan group of people
who did the hard thing and we are all going to benefit from that for generations, so thank you.”
Kearney noted that the legislation is actually a renewal of funding from past state programs.
Kearney reviewed the new investments:
•$220 million into nearclean stream funds, which would restore the agriculture conservation assistance program and clean water procurement program to improve watersheds
• $214 million into the H2O PA program
• $105 million into the PA small water and sewer program, which will deal with pressing infrastructure issues and stormwater management.
• $100 million to the Department of Natural Resources, which allowed the establishment of three state parks as well as repairing hundreds of miles of trails
• $125 million for the whole home repair program to help the low-income fix their basic systems in homes to stay in the home and maintain existing housing stock.
Kearny called the whole house program a smart growth strategy that is related to traditional conservation efforts.
Kearney noted that all the funding came from the state’s discretionary American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
“Everyone here knows the investment is totally worth it,” Kearney said. “Thank you to every organization and everyone in the conservation community for fighting for these investments and basically pushing us to do the right thing.”
‘A lot of great ideas’
Quinn, who co-sponsored the bill in the House, said he has supported the ideals of Growing Greener for years but it was an arduous process getting more members of his party on board.
Quinn said many upstate representatives were interested in the clean streams program, which aids farms which helped to get their support.
Quinn said now the plans are in the conservationists hands.
“You guys have to come together and help us spend it,” Quinn said. “I’ve got a feeling we’ve got a lot of great ideas in this room.”
Cappelletti said the pandemic reminded residents how important green spaces are.
“How much fun our trail and parks are,” she said. “While we stayed home to keep our family and friends safe … we started using the outdoor spaces.”
Cappellitti said she is proud of the bipartisan effort and looks forward to more Growing Greener efforts in the future.
Schaefer said Delaware County Council members have made a unified commitment to invest in greenway programs to catch up with neighboring suburban counties such as Chester and Montgomery, which have been devoting more funds to greenspaces in the recent past.
Schafer noted in 2021 that the county invested over $7 million in Greenways grants programs. Council has a $5 million grant program underway for 2022, and a commitment of $5 million a year as well as the purchase of the Don Guanella property in Marple Township.
Schaefer said the county grants and investments allow nonprofits and municipalities to be able to leverage those grants to get matching state money for projects to protect important spaces and greenways in the county.
She noted both large land investments as well as small green spaces in local communities are vital.
“We see these investments as integral to our economic investment,” Schafer said. “We understand that investing in open space and trails and greenways equals revitalizing our communities, and we have many communities in Delaware County that need to be revitalized.”