The Pennsylvania Recreation & Parks Society (PRPS) secured a grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) matched by the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) to explore the establishment of a Maintenance Institute. The Institute would be a statewide resource to help local community parks and recreation agencies with the latest tools, techniques, and strategies for efficient park maintenance.
Working with Toole Recreation Planning and the Natural Lands Trust, Urban Partners prepared a business plan for the proposed Institute as part of the overall plan. The plan revealed that the Institute could be financially sustainable by the fifth year of operation. Just completed, the study was well-received by PRPS, who will incubate the Institute in its early stage, as well as DCNR, who pledged to contribute funding to the new organization.