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Lancaster seeks DCNR grants for South End improvements and Reservoir Park master plan; committee forwards applications
Summary
Lancaster will ask the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for a $1.385 million grant for South End Park improvements and a $74,010 grant for a Reservoir Park master plan, staff told the public works committee on April 1.
City staff told the public works committee on April 1 that the city will apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for two Community Conservation Partnership Program grants: a $1,385,035 request for South End Park improvements and a $74,009.60 request for a master plan for Reservoir Park.
Director Tina Campbell said the South End Park project is estimated at roughly $2.7 million and the DCNR program caps grant requests at 50% of eligible project costs; the application therefore requests roughly half of the anticipated cost with the remaining match coming from local sources (staff cited about $1 million in anticipated local match). The proposed South End scope discussed in committee includes upgraded playground equipment, a multipurpose field, basketball-court improvements, improved ADA access, water play features, fencing, lighting and seating.
The Reservoir Park request would fund a planning process (master plan) estimated at about $150,000; the DCNR request is for roughly $74,010 (50% of the estimate). Staff described the master plan as a community-engagement process to define programmatic uses, circulation, and amenities; public commenters from nearby neighborhoods asked that outreach specifically engage nearby residents and prioritize safety and maintenance concerns.
Committee members discussed the timeline and community input. Staff said the South End scope emerged from parks- and recreation planning work and community input; Reservoir Park master planning will coordinate with the East End small-area planning work and broader development discussions about nearby county-owned sites. The committee voted to forward both grant-application resolutions to full council for approval of the applications.
Public commenters raised concerns about park maintenance, local hiring for construction work and prioritizing parks in parts of the city that have not seen recent investment.
Sources: Public works committee meeting, April 1, 2025; Director Tina Campbell and committee Q&A; DCNR grant program details referenced by staff.
