Johnstown, PA – Today, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited Johnstown to celebrate the opening of a new community park in the city, Minersville Community Park.
DCNR invested $160,800 in the development of Minersville Community Park, which features a walking path, a half-court basketball court, a pavilion, a parking area, and a playground. This recently completed project was supported through DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) as part of the agency’s 2022 grant round, which awarded $90 million to projects across the Commonwealth.
“This park is a tremendous step in improving access to nature in one of Pennsylvania’s key urban communities,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “Thank you to everyone on the ground who worked to make this park possible for Johnstown. Present and future generations will be able to enjoy nature here for years to come thanks to this important work.”
The $321,600 park project was made possible by a $150,800 investment from City of Johnstown, a $10,000 donation from city resident Robert Ramos, and with support from the Johnstown Community Redevelopment Authority, Minersville Polish Alliance, and community members such as the Minersville Action Committee.
“This project is the culmination of strong local partnerships and the community seeing the value of investing in local communities,” said Mary Ann Manculich, a member of the Minersville Action Committee. “We now have a playground and open space for people of all ages thanks to this collaborative work. Special thanks to Robert Ramos and thank you to everyone who made this park a reality.”
The C2P2 grant program supports projects to create new parks, rehabilitate existing green spaces, and protect natural resources across Pennsylvania. Last fall, the Shapiro Administration awarded more than $79 million to 307 local projects through this program — reinforcing a statewide strategy to expand access to safe, high-quality outdoor recreation.
Pennsylvania is home to more than 6,100 local parks, 124 state parks, over 12,000 miles of trails, and more than 83,000 miles of rivers and streams. Combined with 2.2 million acres of state forest, the Commonwealth is one of the largest providers of public outdoor recreation space in the eastern U.S. with opportunities in all four seasons – making Pennsylvania The Great American Getaway.
For more information about DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants, visit DCNR's website.
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