Grants to Fund Falls Township Community Garden Expansion in Full

Falls Township’s popular community garden will have approximately 30 percent more plots – at absolutely no cost to the township. A pair of grants will fund the expansion project in full, according to Township Manager Peter Gray.

Plans call for the community garden to be expanded from 46 to 59 plots. The Falls Township Board of Supervisors had allocated funds to cover the cost of the additional plots. Thanks to $5,000 of a $10,000 PECO Green Region Grant, as well as open space funds from Bucks County, the garden can grow in size without any cost to the township.

PECO, in conjunction with Natural Lands Trust, began its Green Region Program in 2004. Since its inception, 252 municipalities have been awarded $1.75 million in funding, according to Ted Dorand, of PECO, who presented the Supervisors with a check during this week’s meeting.

The community garden expansion is one of three projects that Falls Township expects to undertake in the spring, following bidding and awarding of contracts.

Falls is also planning to add a 70-foot-long T-shaped fishing pier at Falls Township Community Park, as well as replace the single-span Vermilion Hills pedestrian bridge.

The fishing pier will be handicapped accessible and is expected to be constructed of wood. Supervisors Chairman Bob Harvie said he was concerned about the decking becoming too hot during summer months since the area is not shaded.

“It does get pretty hot,” he said.

Township engineer James Sullivan said he could prepare an alternate bid for cedar, which would be a softer wood, with fewer splinters and cooler than other types of wood. The pier should not require much maintenance at all, according to Sullivan.

The new Vermillion Hills pedestrian bridge, once constructed, will be equipped with safety fencing and will look similar to the existing bridge.

Grants from the county and PECO will save the Township an estimated $234,000 in funds that had been budgeted. In all, the three projects are expected to cost approximately $312,000, with Bucks County chipping in 75 percent, PECO contributing $10,000 - $5,000 for this project and another $5,000 for a future project at the community garden - and Falls Township funding the approximate $73,000 remaining balance.