HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has set sail on an ambitious journey to enhance the Commonwealth’s boating facilities. The Commission recently announced the first round of grants awarded in 2024 through the innovative Boating Facility Grant Program.
Aimed at ensuring Pennsylvania’s recreational boaters have convenient and top-notch facilities, the program funds the planning, development, expansion, and rehabilitation of public boating facilities across the state. The monies for this program primarily come from boat registration fees and state motorboat fuel taxes, with additional federal aid used when applicable.
“Pennsylvania continues to prove itself as a leader in connecting people to the water,” said Paul Littman, Director of the PFBC’s Bureau of Boating. “Through our Boating Facilities Grant Program, more communities across the Commonwealth are realizing the benefits of improving their existing access areas or developing new places that local residents and visiting recreational boaters can enjoy.”
Grants awarded in this round will be dedicated to projects for which the PFBC has allocated $100,000 or less. These include several exciting initiatives in the Delaware River Watershed, such as the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art’s design and construction of canoe and kayak access on Brandywine Creek in Delaware County.
Other notable projects include the City of Allentown’s upgrade of the Canal Park Boat Launch site on Lehigh River in Lehigh County, and the Schuylkill River Development Corporation’s feasibility study for a new boating facility on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia County.
The Ohio River Watershed also has its share of grant recipients. The Boroughs of Tarentum and Cheswick are set to plan two fishing and boating accesses on the Allegheny River in Allegheny County. Meanwhile, the Borough of Union City is slated to construct canoe and kayak access on the South Branch of French Creek in Erie County.
Further afield, the Susquehanna River Watershed will see the development of canoe and kayak access at Yellow Breeches Creek in Cumberland County, courtesy of South Middleton Township. On a statewide level, the Pennsylvania Lake Management Society is set to introduce a mobile boat cleaning station.
While the PFBC accepted grant applications from all corners of the Commonwealth, projects providing public boating access in the Delaware River watershed received special attention. This is thanks to the availability of additional funding through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, created in 2018 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Fund operates under the guidance of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, which champions habitat restoration and conservation activities within the watershed.
Additional Boating Facility Grants, involving more than $100,000 in funding from the PFBC, are expected to be announced later in 2024, pending required approval from the PFBC Board of Commissioners.
As the boating season approaches, the PFBC is reminding boaters about the annual cold-weather life jacket requirement. Between November 1 and April 30, anyone aboard a boat less than 16 feet – including kayakers, canoers, and paddleboarders – must wear a life jacket.
The Boating Facility Grant Program signals Pennsylvania’s commitment to enhancing its waterways and the recreational opportunities it offers. By investing in these facilities, the Commonwealth is not only improving the boating experience for its residents but also attracting visitors to its waters, boosting tourism, and stimulating local economies. As more grants are rolled out in the coming months, Pennsylvania’s boating facilities are set for a transformative wave of improvements.
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