Open Space Accelerator Program
The Chester County Planning Commission is accepting applications for the Open Space Accelerator mini-grant program to support local municipalities in advancing their open space goals. Eligible applicants are Chester County municipalities that have endorsed or acknowledged Landscapes3, and the program is limited to single-municipality projects. The program is designed to facilitate a relatively quick, low-cost, and implementation-focused planning process that results in a small number of achievable priority actions while elevating the importance of open space in the community. This program works especially well to further define a specific action identified in a more general plan, such as a comprehensive plan or Parks, Recreation, and Open Space plan.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted. Funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, CCPC has funding to support approximately seven Open Space Accelerator awards.
How it Works
Municipalities whose applications are selected to participate in the Open Space Accelerator program are assigned a pre-selected consultant who will lead an expedited planning process that follows a pre-defined scope of work that is tailored to the municipality's context and needs. The consultants pre-selected by Chester County are Brandywine Conservancy, Natural Lands, and Simone Collins Landscape Architecture.
The total project cost is approximately $20,000, and municipalities can apply for funding through CCPC's Open Space Accelerator program to cover 50% of the project cost. As part of the project scope, all participating municipalities are required to host an open space-focused community event at their expense.
Municipalities who need help assessing open space conditions and opportunities and identifying a project may work with a CCPC planner who can recommend ideas for potential priority implementation projects. Please contact us to learn more. Contact information is provided below to learn more.
How to Get Started
Municipalities interested in applying for an Open Space Accelerator Mini-Grant are encouraged to contact us to discuss their project idea prior to submitting an application. These discussions are intended to clarify program requirements, eligibility, and project alignment. Contact information is provided below.
Pre-application discussions are optional to all municipalities and do not influence application review or selection. Application materials are available at the bottom of this page.
Timing, Cost, and Staff/Volunteer Requirements
The planning process is designed to be low effort and low-cost to conserve more municipal capacity for implementation. The entire process, from award to plan acceptance, should take less than 12 months to complete and costs approximately $20,000. Funding is available through the Open Space Accelerator mini-grant to cover 50% of this cost.
The participating municipality should establish a steering committee for the project that will meet 2-4 times over the course of the project. This committee can be an existing committee or commission (Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Board, EAC, etc.), as long as separate meetings dedicated to this project are held.
Additionally, participating municipalities must organize and execute an open space-centered community event during the project to rally the community around the importance of open space, and to solicit input on open space priorities. The cost of executing this event is not included in the total project cost and is considered part of the municipal match. Municipalities are welcome to offset event-related costs through sponsorships, utilizing volunteers, etc.
Important Resources
The following materials are available to support municipalities in preparing an application:
Program Webinar
The Chester County Planning Commission held a webinar on May 12 for municipal representatives and partners to learn about the new Open Space Accelerator Mini-Grant Program. This session provided an overview of how the program works, including funding and match requirements, eligible project types and priorities, and the application process.
For more information, contact Ryan Mawhinney, Sustainability Planner, at rmawhinney@Obfuscationchesco.org or 610-344-6285.
This project is funded in part by a partnership grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2).