Boscola Announces Nearly $2 Million in Park, Trail & Conservation Grants for Seven Northampton County Projects

Boscola Announces Nearly $2 Million in Park, Trail & Conservation Grants for Seven Northampton County Projects

January 16, 2026

BETHLEHEM (January 16, 2026) - Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton) announced the awarding of $1,910,300 in grants by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through its Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) for seven critically important park, trail, open space and conservation projects in Northampton County.

"The Lehigh Valley is blessed with an extensive network of community parks, trails, and open space that improve the quality of life of our region," Boscola stated. "Through the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, the Commonwealth is able to partner with local governments and conservation organizations to further enhance our community parks, trails and open space."

Seven grants through the C2P2 program were awarded to Northampton County projects:

• Bethlehem City, $250,000, Development of the South Bethlehem Greenway in Bethlehem City, Northampton County. Work to include the construction of approximately 0.10 miles of trail from New Street to Third Street, amphitheater, rain garden and lighting; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements. This funding brings the Commonwealth's partnership with the City of Bethlehem to over $3 million on the South Bethlehem Greenway.

• Easton City, $500,000, Payment toward the acquisition of approximately 17.57 acres in Easton City and West Easton Borough, Northampton County, to provide approximately 1.14 miles of trail for the development of the Easton Highline.

• Hellertown Borough, $280,000, Further development of Tumminello Park in Hellertown Borough, Northampton County. Work to include construction of a pedestrian bridge and pedestrian walkways; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

• Nazareth Borough, $350,000, Payment toward the acquisition of approximately 41 acres in Nazareth Borough and Upper Nazareth Township, Northampton County for passive recreation and open space.

• Wildlands Conservancy, Inc., $160,000, Restoration of 2,000 feet of three unnamed tributaries in the Lehigh River Watershed, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Work to include dam removal; streambank stabilization; installation of instream habitat structures and riparian forest buffer; landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

• Wildlands Conservancy, Inc., $120,300, Restoration of the Black River in Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County. Work to include dam removal; streambank stabilization; installation of riparian forest buffer; landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

• Wind Gap Borough, $250,000, Rehabilitation of Wind Gap Park in Wind Gap Borough, Northampton County. Work to include construction of pavilion; installation of utilities; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.

The C2P2 program is administered by DCNR's Bureau of Recreation and Conservation to provide financial and technical assistance to local governments, rail and trail organizations, land trusts and other non-profits for park, recreation, conservation and greenway projects. The grant program is funded with a variety of state and federal funding sources including the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Key); the Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF); the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) subject to National Park Service approval; the federal Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Program (PRT), and the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program (HA).

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