Upper Salford Gets $217K Grant From State To Improve Trails

Great news for trail lovers in Montgomery County and the Upper Salford area: major funding is heading to the township to help improve the Schirk-Hutt and Buckman Trail.

The township has receive $217,600 from the state to help develop the trail. The grant was provided by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The money for the program comes from the Marcellus Legacy Fund, which leverages fees levied upon natural gas development for environmental projects.

“Using fee revenue collected from unconventional gas wells, Act 13 supports statewide environmental projects – from flood control, to sewage treatment, to greenways, trails and recreation – that help improve, protect, and conserve Pennsylvania’s natural beauty and well-being,” Governor Wolf said in a statement Monday. “We anticipate a tremendous, positive impact that can be witnessed and shared by communities across the state as a result of these investments.”

The funding for Upper Salford is just a small part of $14 million in approved money disbursed to 94 projects across the state, including others in Montgomery, Chester, and Philadelphia counties.

The Marcellus Legacy Fund was born out of the state legislature's Act 13 of 2012. Since it's enactment, the Fund has been responsible for distributing more than $1 billion to environmental projects, the governor's office said.

Patch file photo.