Roxborough Pocket Park, Friends Of Wissahickon Get $380K From State

WEST CHESTER, PA -- Roxborough-Manayunk area environmental projects have received significant funding from the state, thanks to fees from oil and gas drilling.

Friends of the Wissahickon received $180,000 to help with the restoration of the North Gully along the Lavender Trail.

The Roxborough Development Corporation, meanwhile, received $200,000 to help with the Roxborough Pocket Park.

The grants were 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 the Roxborough-Manyaunk area projects 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.