Upper Merion Township Receives Montco 2040 Implementation Grant from Montgomery County

Funding will support the final phase of King of Prussia District and Upper Merion Township’s First Avenue Linear Park

King of Prussia, PA (June 7, 2022) – Upper Merion Township has received a 2022 Montco 2040 Implementation Grant in the amount of $200,000 for Phase Three of the First Avenue Linear Park. The grant, aimed at implementing the county comprehensive plan, Montco 2040: A Shared Vision, is one of eighteen recently awarded by the Montgomery County Commissioners. These 2022 grant awards account for $2,500,000. Since the program’s inception in 2016, over $12 million has been awarded to projects.

This project phase is the final step in completing the First Avenue Linear Park through the Moore Park section of King of Prussia. Phase Three will include 1,784 LF of multimodal trail, solar powered pedestrian lighting and bus shelters, trash cans, benches and plantings along the remaining gap on the south side of First Avenue from Allendale Rd. to Gulph Rd. on six properties.

Developed and managed by King of Prussia District in partnership with Upper Merion Township and nine commercial property owners, Phase One of the First Avenue Liner Park opened in December 2020, and features an 8-10 foot multi-use pathway connecting all properties, solar powered pedestrian lighting, comfortable seating areas and lush planting beds. Construction of Phase Two will soon be underway and includes stormwater management improvements, installation of precast concrete boardwalk along Trout Creek, improved bus stop facilities, accessible curb ramps, trash receptacles and benches.

The Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program is intended to assist municipalities in making targeted physical improvements that achieve real progress toward the goals of Montco 2040 and its themes of Connected Communities, Sustainable Places, and Vibrant Economy.

Projects were evaluated in terms of impact, county and local planning consistency, equity, project readiness, and funding attributes by a committee made up of planning commission board members and interdepartmental county staff. Projects were also given heightened consideration when addressing one of three focus categories for 2022: Walk/Bike Montco – Trails, Paths, Sidewalk Connections and Bike Facilities; Downtown and Community Destination Support; or Adaptation and Resiliency.

Visit www.montcopa.org/Montco2040GrantProgram for more on the grant program and to see all of the grant recipients. For questions, contact Anne Leavitt-Gruberger at 610-278-3727 or via email at aleavitt@montcopa.org.

UPPER MERION TOWNSHIP

Upper Merion is a township in Montgomery County, roughly 17 square miles large and located in southeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 15 miles from Philadelphia. It is one of the most vibrant centers of business and recreation in Pennsylvania: home to over 33,000 residents, hosts over 63,000 jobs, and offers over 26 million square feet of commercial space.

KING OF PRUSSIA DISTRICT

King of Prussia District is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, special services organization. King of Prussia District engages public and private partners to collaboratively improve the economic environment in King of Prussia by making it more vibrant, attractive and prosperous. More information is available at visitKOP.com | Facebook @KingofPrussiaDistrict | Twitter @KOPBID | Instagram @visitKOP