Trust for Public Land Celebrates $672,000 Grant to the City of Reading to Improve Hillside Park

Trust for Public Land (TPL) celebrates the announcement of the National Park Service’s $672,000 investment in Hillside Park through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program.

Through the ORLP program, the National Park Service (NPS) awarded $254.68 million to 54 communities to invest in locally led park projects across 24 states. This is the largest-ever investment in the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program.

Through its partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, TPL provided eligible Pennsylvania communities with technical assistance and support in their pursuit of ORLP grants. TPL is proud to support the City of Reading’s transformation of Hillside Pool Park into a vibrant community space.

The City of Reading will use the grant to replace the derelict pool with a modern splash pad, shaded cabanas, and numerous upgrades to create a family-friendly atmosphere. Additional improvements include new operational, concession, and restroom facilities, on-grade parking, and full ADA accessibility.

“The City of Reading is proud to announce that it participated in the national application process and was selected to receive a $672,000 grant for the revitalization of the Hillside Pool Property,” said David W. Anspach III, Capital Projects Manager, City of Reading. “The grant, coupled with Mayor Eddie Moran and City Council’s ARPA investment, will create a total of $2,672,000 construction fund for the project. We are expecting a Spring 2026 completion of the project. We thank our City Staff and our partners at the Trust for Public Land, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources-Bureau of Recreation and Conservation for the dedication and assistance in the application process.”

Mayor Eddie Morán emphasized the significance of the project: “Investing in parks and recreation has been a key priority for me and my administration, as these spaces are vital to reducing youth violence and building a stronger community. The revitalization of the Hillside Pool property will turn it into a family-friendly destination, enhancing the quality of life for all residents. We are grateful for the support of the National Park Service, City Council, and our partners for helping make this project a reality.”

“Hillside Park is such an important outdoor space for the Reading community and TPL is thrilled to see the park receive this federal funding to improve accessibility and create a space for all to enjoy,” said Owen Franklin, Vice President of the Great Lakes Region for Trust for Public Land.

“Equitable access to the outdoors helps people lead healthier, happier, more prosperous lives. Trust for Public Land is grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration’s support for locally led park projects in nature-deprived communities through the America the Beautiful and Justice40 Initiatives” said Bill Lee, SVP of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations at TPL. “We are excited to see today’s announcement that the Department of Interior will invest a record-setting $254.68 million for this effort through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program. Today’s announcement highlights the pressing need for the Senate to pass the Outdoors for All Act, which will expand and codify ORLP, enabling more communities to take part in the program and build more quality parks.”

Over 1 in 3 people in the United States, or 100 million people, including 28 million children, do not have access to a park within a 10-minute walk of home. TPL’s mission is to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. The organization partners with people in communities across the country to plan their conservation priorities, help fund their visions, protect the lands and waters they value, and create the parks and trails they need to thrive. This work results in cleaner air and water; healthier, more equitable communities; more culturally relevant public places; connected neighborhoods, and a more resilient and livable environment for people everywhere. TPL looks forward to continuing to support communities in accessing this critical federal funding to create equitable access to parks and green spaces nationwide when Round 8 of the ORLP program is announced this fall.

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected 4 million acres of public land; created 5,420 parks, trails, 200+ Community Schoolyards® projects, and iconic outdoor places; raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands; and brought parks and trails to within a 10-minute walk of home for nearly 9.7 million people. To learn more, visit tpl.org.