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    Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

    Apply for the Boating Facility Grant

    Provides grants for the planning, acquisition, development, expansion and rehabilitation of public boating facilities.

    Boating Facility Grant Application
    Boating Facility Grant Program Guidelines

    About the Grant

    The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) created the Boating Facility Grant Program to provide grants for the planning, acquisition, development, expansion and rehabilitation of public boating facilities located on the waters of the Commonwealth. The goal of the program is to ensure Pennsylvania’s recreational boaters have the highest quality boating facilities.

    Funds for this program are derived primarily from boat registration fees, state motorboat fuels tax, and restricted revenue accounts, if applicable.  In certain instances, federal aid is also used, if appropriate. 

    How to Apply

    The PFBC periodically issues a call for projects. Instructions on how, when and where to apply will be included as part of this process.

    If you have questions, contact the Statewide Public Access Program Manager at 717-346-8196 or ra-boatgrants@pa.gov.

    How to Apply

    View Application for the Boating Facility Grant Program

    View Application

    View Procedure Guide for the Boating Facility Grant Program

    View Guide

    Additional Information

    Who is eligible?

    Boating Facility Grants are available to public entities, including townships, boroughs, municipal and county governments as well as to nonprofit groups (501c3) including land trusts, conservancies and watershed associations that have or will have the capability to provide boat access facilities that are open and available for general public use.

    What does the grant cover?

    Grants cover up to 50% of costs for land acquisition, project design and engineering, development, expansion, and construction of public recreational boat access facilities. Eligible activities include the rehabilitation, expansion or construction of new boat ramps, bulkheads, courtesy floats, access roads, parking areas, restrooms, signs and localized landscaping. All construction activities must benefit and directly support recreational boating. Eligible projects must occur on lands owned by the project sponsor, or where the sponsor has a long-term lease or agreement on the site. Grant funds are to be used for major site improvements and are not available for routine maintenance or operational activities.

    What will it cost?

    Grant recipients are responsible for at least 50% of the proposed project cost. This 50% match can be cash, the fair market value of any labor or materials, a combination thereof, or grants from other federal, state or local funding sources.

    Can you charge for the use of the facility?

    No, facilities developed with Boating Facility Grants must remain open to the public and free of charge for 25 years.

    Responsibilities under the grant program

    • Eligible projects must occur on public lands owned by the project sponsor, or where the sponsor has a long-term lease or agreement on the site.
    • Applicants must be willing to enter into a 25-year agreement to keep the facility open to public use.
    • All work must be completed within a two-year period.
    • Applicants must agree to provide for all costs for ordinary and routine maintenance of the facility for the term of the agreement.
    • Applicants must provide a sign that acknowledges that the facility was constructed or improved with funds from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
    • Applicants must obtain all the necessary permits and local land use approvals required for the construction and operation of the proposed facility.

    Resources

      Award Recipients

      2026

      Lake Erie Watershed

      • Erie Western PA Port Authority:  Revitalize the Chestnut Street motorized boat launch on Lake Erie in Erie County.
      • North East Community Marina Authority:  Replace courtesy docks on Lake Erie in Erie County.

      Ohio River Watershed

      • Brookville Borough:  Expand the White Street Kayak Launch along Redbank Creek in Jefferson County.
      • Elizabeth Township:  Enhance the existing Buena Vista Boat Launch along the Youghiogheny River in Allegheny County.
      • Friends of the Riverfront:  Increase safety and accessibility at South Side Riverfront Park along the Monongahela Reiver in Allegheny County.
      • Springdale Borough: Rehabilitate the existing bloat launch along the Allegheny River in Allegheny County.
      • Tidioute Borough: Update the existing Tidioute Boat Launch along the Allegheny River in Warren County.

      Susquehanna River Watershed

      • Clinton County:  Conduct feasibility study for a potential passageway along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Clinton County.
      • Conestoga River Club:  Develop Reigart’s Landing River Access along the Conestoga River in Lancaster County.
      • Duncannon Borough:  Plan and design up to three access areas along the Susquehanna River in Perry County.
      • Duryea Borough:  Construct two non-motorized access areas in the Duryea Wetlands Recreation Area in Luzerne County.
      • Monroe Township:  Construct a new boating access area along the Yellow Breeches Creek in Cumberland County.

      2025

      Delaware River Watershed

      • Muhlenberg Township: Construct a new non-motorized access area at Pioneer Grove Park along the Schuylkill River in Berks County.
      • Riverfront North Partnership: Make dock improvements at the Frankford Boat Launch along the Delaware River in Philadelphia County.
      • Spring City Borough: Improve amenities at the Spring City Boat Launch Park along the Schuylkill River in Chester County.
      • Thornhurst Township: Develop access area at Riverfront Park along the Lehigh River in Lackawanna County.
      • Chester County: Improvements to the Hibernia County Park access area on Chambers Lake in Chester County.
      • East Coventry Township: Develop a boating access area  at Towpath Park Boat Ramp along the Schuylkill River in Chester County.
      • Schuylkill River Greenways:  Improve river access at Ganshahawny Park along the Schuylkill River in Berks County.
      • Schuylkill River Greenways:  Construct a new boat ramp and other amenities at Reesers Landing along the Schuylkill River in Berks County.

      Lake Erie Watershed

      • Erie-Western PA Port Authority; Replacing courtesy docks on Lake Erie, Erie County.

      Ohio River Watershed

      • North Franklin Township: Construct a Fishing Dock and Canoe/Kayak Launch on Reservoir Two in Washington County.
      • Oil Region Alliance: Construct a boating access area along the Allegheny River in Venango County.

      Susquehanna River Watershed

      • Hanover Borough: Install a non-motorized access area on Long Arm Reservoir in York County.
      • Lewistown Borough: Rehabilitate the boat launch at Victory Park along the Juniata River in Mifflin County.
      • Montgomery Borough: Rehabilitate the boat launch at Montgomery Borough Park along the  West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Lycoming County
      • East Lampeter Township: Design and construct a non-motorized access area along Mill Creek in Lancaster County.

      2024

      Delaware River Watershed

      • Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art: Design and construct a non-motorized access area along Brandywine Creek in Delaware County.
      • City of Allentown:  Upgrade site plan and engineering design of a boating access area at Canal Park Boat Launch along the Lehigh River in Lehigh County.
      • Schuylkill River Development Corporation: Conduct a boating facility feasibility study for a future access area along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia County.

      Ohio River Watershed

      • Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art: Design and construct a non-motorized access area along Brandywine Creek in Delaware County.
      • City of Allentown:  Upgrade site plan and engineering design of a boating access area at Canal Park Boat Launch along the Lehigh River in Lehigh County.
      • Schuylkill River Development Corporation: Conduct a boating facility feasibility study for a future access area along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia County.

      Susquehanna River Watershed

      • South Middleton Township: Design and construct a non-motorized access area along Yellow Breeches Creek in Cumberland County.
      • Susquehanna Depot Borough: Develop an access area at the Ira Reynolds River Park along the Susquehanna River in Susquehanna County.
      • Wysox Township: Rehabilitate a boat access area at the Wysox Community Park along the Lackawanna River in Bradford County.

      Statewide

      • Pennsylvania Lake Management Society: Purchase and operate a Mobile Boat Cleaning Station throughout the Commonwealth.
      A new boat cleaning trailer parked at Lake Wallenpaupack.

      Mobile Boat Cleaning Station

      The Pennsylvania Lake Management Society (PALMS) purchased a mobile boat cleaning station to be used by statewide partners.  The statewide locations are frequented by day boaters and they represent the greatest risk of aquatic invasive species (AIS) spread into and out of the waterbodies of the commonwealth.

      Drawing of a new designed boat launch with a parking lot full of trucks with trailers, paved launch ramps and kayaks floating in the river off the ramps.

      Boat Launch Redesign

      Riverfront North Partnership will redesign and construct the Tacony Boat Launch along the Delaware River.  This will include motorized and non-motorized boat ramps, picnic pavilion, a concession and restroom building, improved parking, and a fishing pier.  It will improve public safety by demolishing a structurally unsound wharf and installing a living shoreline and overlook pier for anglers. 

      Kayak sitting in adaptable kayak launch along a dock on the Delaware River.

      Adaptive Kayak Launch

      The Glen Foerd Conservation Corporation received a planning grant to design a dock directly on the Delaware River.  The proposed dock will provide unparalleled free recreational access and will support the applicant's established environmental programs that focus on the watershed.  The final dock design will include at least one adaptable ADA kayak launch.  

      Contact information for questions

      Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
      Bureau of Boating
      Boating Facility Grant Program
      PO Box 67000
      Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000
      717-346-8196
      Email: ra-boatgrants@pa.gov