Grants offered to improve access to local waterways

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy would like to make it easier for people to get their canoes and kayaks into area waterways.

To do that, the nonprofit organization offers municipalities and other nonprofit organizations grant funding to improve access points to area streams, creeks and rivers. 

Eli Long, the conservancy’s watershed manager, said grants of up to $4,000 are available and the application process is easy.

“The application is two pages asking for site location, river class, primary contact, property owner, GPS location and the amount of money sought,” Long said. 

The application also asks for the availability of volunteers and equipment. Applicants may also include a narrative up to three pages long describing the project.

“Each one of these has been designed and inspired by the local group, everything from a walking trail to sandstone steps,” Long said. 

While the goal is to increase access to waterways that can be paddled, the projects presented for funding are not necessarily handicapped accessible as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The vast majority of what we’ve done could not be considered ADA accessible in any way,” Long said. “It’s just making it a little easier to get your canoe or kayak to the water instead of going through the bramble and brush.”

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