PHILADELPHIA, (May 8, 2008) – PECO has identified four Montgomery County municipalities with projects focusing on open space conservation and parks and recreational resources to receive $25,000 in grant funding.  The grants are being made through the PECO Green Region program, which assists municipalities in southeastern Pennsylvania with ongoing efforts to protect and improve open land.

Including those in Montgomery County, PECO has identified 15 different projects from across the Philadelphia region to receive more than $110,000 in Green Region grants this summer.  Since the Green Region program’s beginning in 2005, PECO has provided nearly a half million dollars toward qualifying projects.

“PECO is proud to support programs that improve our environment and the quality of life for our customers,” said Denis O’Brien, PECO president and CEO.  “It is pleasing to know that by working together we can identify ways to improve the environment throughout the region.”

Municipalities may apply for a Green Region grant of up to $10,000 per project.  A committee, which includes representatives from PECO, Exelon, county agencies and conservation organizations, reviews applications and issues the grants.  The grant program is administered by Natural Lands Trust, the region’s largest land conservation organization.

Montgomery County’s recipients for 2008 awards are:

Abington Township: $7,500 for a plan to improve public use and environmental education activities at Alverthorpe Manor Cultural Park. The park includes 20 acres of woodlands, an historic Georgian-style mansion that is home to the Abington Art Center and an abandoned 1836 Quaker meetinghouse in Jenkintown.  When completed, the site will feature walking paths coupled with public art sculpture by regional and national artists.

Cheltenham Township: $5,000 for the planning of the Tookany Creek Pedestrian Trail (Phases III and IV). The trail planned in these phases is a 1 mile pedestrian path that will connect to an already built 1.2 mile section of trail along the Tookany Creek greenway. The grant will be used to hire a professional design consultant to plan and engineer the 1-mile segment, as well as prepare construction plans and specifications.

Borough of Pottstown: $5,000 to support the development of a master site plan for the Carousel Complex, a Township-owned property that adjoins two existing recreational areas - Riverfront and Memorial Parks.  The plan will include engineering and design to develop a pedestrian and biking trail across the former industrial site in order to connect the two parks.

Worcester Township: $7,500 for the addition of landscaping and passive recreation improvements to Heebner Park.  New amenities will include benches and picnic tables to accompany two new pavilions as well as additional trees and ornamental landscaping.  These improvements will enhance the experience for users of four miles of existing paved and natural walking trails.