New Alternate Permanent Protection

Since the easement discussions began here in 2023, another option for permanence has emerged. Pennsylvania’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) has broadened how its Acquisition & Development category can be used. Even when land is already owned outright, a C2P2 Acquisition grant can secure permanent protection through a deed covenant. In Mount Gretna’s case, that covenant can also be paired with funding for stewardship activities such as forest management, trail improvements, and water protection — making this a new alternative to consider alongside conservation easements for the Southern Woodlands (~18 acres).

DCNR C2P2 Acquisition (& Development) – New Permanent Option

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) runs the Community Conservation Partnerships Program — a state grant program that helps communities protect open space, conserve natural resources, and improve recreation. One of its strongest tools is the Acquisition & Development grant, which can result in permanent protection through a covenant recorded with the deed.

Like a conservation easement, this covenant is legally binding and ensures the land cannot be developed. It is recorded with the deed and enforced by DCNR (or its designee), surviving all future boards and owners.

Why this matters for Chautauqua

We’ve done this before: Soldiers Field (2022). That earlier Acquisition (50/50) grant provided critical support for the field’s purchase. In exchange, DCNR required a permanent covenant on the deed, guaranteeing protection in perpetuity.

Provides permanence + stewardship planning

For the Southern Chautauqua (~18 acres), an Acquisition grant could guarantee permanent protection while also funding stewardship activities, not just acquisition costs. Because this land is already owned outright (no mortgage), project dollars could go toward forest management, trail improvements, and water protection.

Match flexibility

The grant requires a 50% match, but that match does not all have to be cash. It can include:

• • The land value being permanently restricted (documented through appraisal)

  • Donated professional services (foresters, engineers, surveyors)

  • Volunteer labor (e.g., Gretna Gardeners valued at DCNR’s approved rate)

  • In-kind contributions (equipment, materials, supplies)

⚠️ However, if most of the match comes from non-cash items (like land value), there will be less liquid funding to carry out on-the-ground stewardship. To fully implement a stewardship plan, at least some real cash will likely still be needed to pair with DCNR’s reimbursement.

Stewardship plan expected

While applicants can technically apply without a completed forest stewardship plan, DCNR often requires one during project implementation, especially for conservation-focused acquisitions. Proposals that include a professional plan at the outset are far more competitive. Such a plan outlines how grant funds will be spent and can influence the size of the award (more planned work = larger budget). Engaging a qualified forest management firm through a competitive bidding process would add credibility and position the application strongly for funding.

If you’ve already read the Forests First section of this site, you understand why a stewardship plan matters: it guides decisions about tree care, invasive control, and water protection in a way that piecemeal management cannot. For landowners with large, contiguous parcels — like the Pennsylvania Chautauqua and the Southern Chautauqua woodlands — this new C2P2 option is especially valuable, because it combines permanence with a funded plan for stewardship. Individual homeowners with small parcels can practice stewardship on their own properties, but they cannot access this particular tool.

Eligibility flexibility

In some cases, title can remain with the current landowner (such as a 501(c)(4)) while an eligible applicant — for example, the Chautauqua Foundation, already prequalified through the Soldiers Field project — applies for funding and holds the covenant. This option was not available in 2022, which is why Soldiers Field had to be transferred to the Foundation at that time.

Project duration

C2P2 projects are not limited to one year. If awarded, Chautauqua would typically have 2–3 years to complete the project, with extensions possible. This allows time to phase planning and stewardship work.

Difference from an Easement

Unlike a traditional conservation easement, which provides permanent protection but typically no dedicated funds for land care, an Acquisition grant through C2P2 combines permanence with stewardship.

This means:

• • Protections are permanent and enforceable

  • A stewardship plan is not just encouraged but required

  • Funds are available to support forest, water, and trail management

For these reasons, this approach represents another tool now available — a newer option that complements, rather than replaces, easements. It offers Mount Gretna a way to secure the Southern Woodlands permanently while also ensuring they are actively cared for through funded stewardship that benefits the entire community.

Another Path: Active Care Without Legal Permanence

Not every tool for protecting land results in permanent legal restrictions. The Community & Watershed Forestry (CWF) grant, offered under DCNR’s C2P2 program, takes a different approach. It focuses on restoring and strengthening community forests through tree planting, canopy expansion, riparian buffers, and lawn-to-habitat conversions.

For Chautauqua, this could mean benefits across all 22.5 acres of communal woodland, not just the Southern Woodlands. With an 80/20 funding structure (DCNR provides 80%, local match is 20%), the program is financially accessible while reaching more land.

If you’ve already read the Forests First section of this site, you’ve seen why stewardship matters: without active care, forests decline — even those that look “wild.” That’s why one of the most important parts of the CWF program is its requirement for a professional stewardship plan. Such a plan ensures that decisions about canopy health, invasive species, trails, and stormwater are coordinated and science-based rather than piecemeal.

For a community like Mount Gretna, where forests are our living infrastructure, a stewardship plan developed under CWF could set a standard for all communal woodlands. Even though it does not secure permanence the way a covenant or easement would, it creates healthier, more resilient forests now — and lays the groundwork for future protections.