Municipal Acquisition Grants

The Municipal Acquisition Grants program, part of the Preservation Partnership Grant Program – Round 37, provides funding for Chester County municipalities and land-owning municipal recreation authorities to acquire land for public use and recreation. This grant supports efforts to preserve open space, enhance recreational opportunities, and secure land or easements that will be accessible to the public. Eligible projects include the purchase of privately owned land, conservation easements, and right-of-way easements for public trails. The acquisition of previously restricted property and land owned by non-county government agencies may also qualify if it significantly increases public access. The program does not support projects inconsistent with county policies, acquisitions finalized before grant approval without a Waiver for Retroactivity, term easements, purchases of structures with monetary value, or land contaminated with hazardous substances. Additionally, properties already under county ownership or with existing county interests are ineligible. The program allows applicants to request a waiver for retroactivity if they anticipate purchasing land or incurring project costs before receiving an award. These waivers must be submitted at least four weeks prior to settlement and do not guarantee funding but ensure eligibility if approved. The grant provides reimbursement for up to 50% of the appraised value for fee-simple land acquisitions and conservation easement purchases. Eligible transaction costs include appraisals (up to $3,000), title insurance, boundary surveys (fully reimbursable up to $12,599 with proper price quotes), and consultant costs (up to $2,000). For fully donated land or easements, the grant may cover up to 33% of the appraised value to offset transaction costs. Ineligible costs include mortgage or loan interest, demolition, site clean-up, in-house services, and any costs incurred outside of the grant agreement. Municipalities are encouraged to maximize county funds by securing additional federal, state, local, or private matching funds. Matching funds can include cash contributions and landowner donations, where the sale price is below the appraised value. Each municipality may submit only one application per grant round and may not have more than two active grants unless participating in a joint project. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, with payments issued after project completion and submission of required documentation. Reimbursement requests must be submitted within 60 days of the contract termination date. To ensure long-term public benefit, funded acquisitions must be permanently restricted through a Declaration of Public Trust or a Conservation Easement approved by the county. Any transfer of land acquired with county funds must be pre-approved, ensuring continued public access. Additionally, applicants must notify the county of any environmental hazards on the proposed property, and an acknowledgment sign recognizing county funding is required at the project site. Cooperative projects involving multiple municipalities require formal agreements detailing financial contributions and management responsibilities.