Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape awards $100,000 in grants to support conservation, recreation, and education in Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape has announced new awards totaling $100,000 in mini-grants to advance the goals of land conservation and restoration, outdoor recreation, community revitalization through green infrastructure, and environmental education throughout the two-county region of Lehigh Valley.
The Lehigh Valley Greenways Mini-Grant Program is a reimbursement grant program funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and administered by Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC). The purpose of the program is to protect and promote natural resources through the implementation of ready-to-go, single-year projects.
The 2025 Lehigh Valley Greenways mini-grant application period closed on March 13 and attracted a large group of applications requesting approximately $180,000. Twelve projects have been awarded funding through a Lehigh Valley Greenways mini-grant.
2025 Mini-Grant Recipients
Goal 1: Land Conservation and Environmental Restoration
City of Easton, $12,700, to support the installation of 11 trees, perennials, and shrubs at 8th Street Park. The project includes placement of boulders to slow stormwater runoff and interpretive signage.
Upper Macungie Township, $10,000, to support the planting and maintenance of 80 native mature trees at Grange Park.
Upper Nazareth Township, $20,000 to support the installation of a harvest grove. This project includes eradicating invasive weeds from the site, establishing a robust meadow composed of native perennial and grass species, planting diverse species within right-of-way sightlines, and developing a long-term maintenance plan for ongoing preservation of biodiversity. Once established, the project will allow for public harvesting of selected forest products produced by new plantings.
Wildlands Conservancy, $7,000 to support a riparian buffer planting at Saucon Park. The project includesplanting 500 native trees on two acres with volunteers and contracting management of invasive species.
Goal 2: Outdoor Recreation and Trail Connections
Borough of Catasauqua, $3,000 to supportthe installation of a kiosk, pet waste station, and bench in the Borough-owned lot at 175 Lehigh Street, adjacent to the D&L Trail.
City of Allentown, $2,000, to support the installation of a new water fountain with a bottle filler at Jordan Meadows Park, an access area for the Jordan Creek Greenway.
Goal 3: Community Revitalization (through green infrastructure)
Bushkill Township, $7,400 to support thenaturalization of two steep pond berms at two Bushkill Township owned preserves. The naturalization process will include but is not limited to the removal of lawn grass, planting of native warm-season grass and wildflower seed mix, removal and treatment of invasive species, and planting of approximately six native trees and shrubs.
North Whitehall Township, $5,000, to improve the Ironton Rail-Trail Portland Street Trailhead. The project includes site work, expansion of landscaping around the entranceway sign, additional mulching and native plants, new guiderail, and additional street trees.
Da Vinci Discovery Center of Science and Technology, $5,000, to support native plantings at Da Vinci Science Center. The project includes the purchase and installation of four educational native plant signs, plant marker signs, and four large planter boxes planted with native wildflowers. Also included are professional services from a native plant nursery that will provide and install plants and soil and maintain plantings.
Goal 4: Equitable Education and Outreach
Mindful Child Initiative, $10,000, to support educational programming delivered in partnership with Reset Outdoors to 46 classrooms in 14 Allentown Elementary Schools. The program will build awareness and empathy with an environmental approach utilizing tailored materials.
Wildlands Conservancy, $7,000, to support six guided sessions at four preserves in Emmaus and Bethlehem, co-facilitated by expert guides from Transcend and recovery professionals from Sync Recovery. The goal of the program is to promote mental and physical wellness, outdoor recreation, environmental education, and local stewardship.
Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, $7,900 to support enhancement of the Saucon Creek Educational Trail at the Heller Homestead Park. The project includes development, fabrication, and installation of up to 10 educational signs; improvement of the condition of the walking path through the addition of mulch, the addition of a large-format watershed map at the entrance kiosk, and the installation of native pollinator gardens.
