Hatfield, Lower Salford awarded grant funding for stormwater, pedestrian improvements

John S. Clemens Memorial Park.

Hatfield and Lower Salford townships are getting some much-needed funding for stormwater and pedestrian improvement projects.

Both municipalities were named as recipients of the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program.

Hatfield was awarded $200,000 to go toward its John S. Clemens Memorial Park stormwater basin project.

The grant funds will be used for construction of a basin, which was named as part of improvements to the park alongside new acreage.

In Lower Salford, $113,650 in grant funds will go toward the Yoder Road sidewalk connections project.

The money will fund construction of about 900 linear feet of new 5-foot-wide sidewalks, with a 4-foot buffer, along the south side of Yoder Road, between Vernal Lane and Kulp Road.

The project also involves new highway curbing, driveway modifications, additional street trees, and ADA pedestrian accommodations, according to Montgomery County. Once completed, it will connect several destinations together, like Indian Creek Middle School.

These two projects are of the 13 total that Montgomery County Commissioners approved for grants from the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program.

The grant awards account for just under $2.5 million across the 13 municipalities, according to Montgomery County Office of Communications. The County received 23 applications totaling more than $4 million in requests from 22 municipalities during the 2024 cycle.

“In this ninth year of grant funding, the County continues to receive innovative applications aimed at implementing the County’s comprehensive plan, Montco 2040: A Shared Vision,” said Jamila H. Winder, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “These grant awards will assist municipalities in making targeted physical improvements that achieve real progress toward the goals of the plan and the plan’s themes of Connected Communities, Sustainable Places, and Vibrant Economy.”

Projects were evaluated in terms of impact, equity, county and local planning consistency, project readiness, and local project funding by a committee made up of planning commission board members and interdepartmental county staff. Projects were also given consideration when addressing one of three focus categories for 2024: Walk Montco and Bike Montco – Trails, Paths, Sidewalk Connections and Bike Facilities; Downtown and Community Destination Support; or Adaptation and Resiliency.

“The latest $2.5 million in Montco 2040 grants shows our commitment to sustainable, livable, vibrant communities in every corner of Montgomery County,” said Neil Makhija, Montgomery County commissioner. “From investments in solar installations to parks and trails to infrastructure for ADA accessibility and climate resiliency, we think government’s job is to plan for the future for all of our residents. I can’t wait to see these projects completed as quickly as possible in collaboration with our municipalities.”

“I’m confident the grants awarded this year are aligned with our goals to maintain Montgomery County’s natural beauty and community bonds,” said Thomas DiBello, Montgomery County commissioner. “These projects will ensure municipalities across the County are more accessible to their residents and more conductive to local business and tourism.”

The grant program has awarded nearly $17.8 million to 140 grants in 53 municipalities in Montgomery County to date, according to the county.