The Trust for Public Land Applauds Passage of PA’s 2012-2013 Budget

Today The Trust for Public Land applauded the Pennsylvania State Legislature for approval of the 2012-2013 state budget, which restored funding for two vital land conservation programs, the Keystone Fund and the State Farmland Preservation Program.

“The Trust for Public Land and our action affiliate, The Conservation Campaign, worked closely with the Renew Growing Greener Coalition to ensure continued funding for Pennsylvania’s critical conservation programs,” said Anthony Cucchi, The Trust for Public Land’s Pennsylvania State Director.

In July, Governor Corbett signed a state budget that restored $36 million to the Keystone Fund, which provides grants for local open space and park development projects, and restored $20 million in dedicated funds for the Farmland Preservation Program.

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, sponsored by The Conservation Campaign and supported by TPL’s Conservation Finance Program, coordinated an effective media and lobbying campaign to urge the Legislature to restore this funding after the Governor proposed to zero out and eliminate these programs.

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition is the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth. More than 244 organizations, groups and businesses have signed the Coalition’s statement of support, and nearly 150 government entities, including 37 counties, have passed resolutions calling for a dedicated source of funding for the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund.

The Trust for Public Land is the nation’s leading non-profit organization in creating parks and playgrounds in cities across the country, and is also the nation’s leader in helping local communities create funding for parks and conservation. Since it was founded in 1972, The Trust for Public Land has completed more than 5,200 conservation projects in 47 states.