The Chester County commissioners recently approved the awarding of $2.5 million in open space preservation and park improvement grants at the commissioners' public meeting. The grants are made available through Chester County's Preservation Partnership Program, which offers funding to municipalities and nonprofit land preservation organizations.

The commitment of county funds will help leverage an additional $15 million of non-county funds. A total of 15 grants will be awarded this year.

Local grant recipients included East Coventry Township, which will receive $50,000 for the acquisition of 1.7 acres to add to its 160-acre publicly accessible Nature Preserve.

North Coventry Township will receive $41,312 for the Riverside Park river access improvements, including the installation of an adaptive kayak launch on the Schuylkill River, providing river access to those with physical disabilities and those using mobility devices, and the replacement of the existing, deteriorated concrete boat launch.

Spring City Borough will receive $47,793 for the Brown Street Park improvements, which will include four ADA parking spaces, an accessible path from the new ADA spaces to the picnic pavilion and playground, replacement of the mulch playground surface with an ADA safe play surface, modifications to benches to make them accessible and the addition of two pieces of all-inclusive play equipment within the existing playground.

The French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust will receive $112,200 for a 37.6-acre conservation easement on the Nesspor farm in East Coventry Township.

The Open Land Conservancy of Chester County will receive $50,000 for the Lorimer Preserve Stream Restoration project, which involves the removal of an earthen dam; the creation of a stream with natural meanders, with banks reinforced and vegetated to withstand severe occasional flooding; restoration of the trail network; and installation of a stream crossing.

Chester County has funded the preservation of more than 64,000 acres of farmland, open space, nature preserves and parks in partnership with farmers, municipalities, nonprofits and landowners in all 73 municipalities.