DNREC Menu
This page presents details about each of the projects that have been approved for funding under the Community Environmental Project Fund (CEPF) for calendar year 2026.
From Cleanup to Prevention: Illegal Dumping Deterrence in Knollwood & Overlook Colony will expand community-led cleanups, education and enforcement in two Equity Focus Areas of Claymont.
Knollwood Woods, now dedicated New Castle County parkland along historic Naamans Creek, is both a mature forest and a vital recreational refuge that has suffered decades of illegal dumping.
Building on years of resident-led cleanups—including the 2025 tire removal—the project funds two cleanups, two listening sessions and expanded camera monitoring.
These efforts will reduce illegal dumping, protect public health and restore Knollwood Woods as a safe, vibrant recreational space for Claymont families.
Return to Community Environmental Project Fund page.
The Elsmere Volunteer Cleanup Crew (EVCC) is a community-led initiative dedicated to reducing litter, increasing community beautification and fostering environmental stewardship in the Town of Elsmere.
Since its implementation in 2022, EVCC has engaged residents of all ages in monthly cleanups by collecting hundreds of pounds of litter and promoting pride in the community.
Return to Community Environmental Project Fund page.
End Community Violence Now (ECVN) will lead a community-driven environmental enhancement effort to restore safety, unity and pride in West Laurel.
The project will transform neglected public spaces into safe, vibrant areas through four or more resident-led clean-up and beautification events, the creation of murals and gardens, improved lighting and signage and a co-designed public space plan.
At least 100 residents will participate in shaping and stewarding these revitalizations ensuring long-term sustainability and resident-led maintenance of safer, more connected community spaces.
Return to Community Environmental Project Fund page.
Community members in Northeast Wilmington have been gardening at Conscious Connections Urban Farm Center for many years.
This project will be a closed loop solar powered irrigation system that will collect rainwater from a needed storage shed and pump the water using battery power through an irrigation system into the 20 garden beds on the lot.
The project also affords seating for community members to hold six workshops over the months of the program.
Return to Community Environmental Project Fund page.
The Southbridge Wilmington Wetlands Park provides a great opportunity for Southbridge residents to enjoy outdoor recreation opportunities, including youth utilizing the lighted athletic fields and Southbridge youth participating in sports leagues at the Chase Fieldhouse.
The project is to engage Southbridge volunteers (along with professional contractors) to develop the C Street entrance to the Wetlands Park. The Project calls for designing and building the hardscape around the C Street entrance to add low-maintenance landscaping, benches, signage about Southbridge history and the value of a Wetlands Park in mitigating the brownfields and flooding that have plagued the community for so long.
The Project will entice Southbridge residents to make use of the Wetlands Bridge to access all that the Riverfront has to offer – enjoying the beauty of the Wetlands Park as they traverse it on foot.
Return to Community Environmental Project Fund page.
Odyssey Charter School will expand Controlled Environment Agriculture with a 10-foot by 24-foot greenhouse growing culturally relevant crops. Producing more than 600 pounds annually for more than 250 food-insecure families via the OWL Pantry, the project also promotes student wellness, nutrition education and outdoor recreation.
Over 500 Middle and High School CTE students will engage in hands-on gardening, sustainable agriculture and climate-smart practices. The greenhouse will serve as a year-round outdoor learning space, hosting student clubs (FFA, Students 4 Food Equity, Girls Grow Greens), seasonal events and workshops that foster environmental literacy, leadership and stewardship through more than 1,000 hours of experiential learning.
Return to Community Environmental Project Fund page.
Residential Community Monitor Advocates will deploy a network of community-scale air-quality sensors to measure SO₂, NOₓ, PM₂.₅, VOC, and H₂S in Delaware City residential corridors affected by industrial and traffic sources.
Data will be shared with DNREC and residents through a public dashboard to advance environmental justice and health literacy.
Return to Community Environmental Project Fund page.
The Community Development Corporation will plant a native tree barrier between the Holloway Terrace community park and playground and I-295 exiting the Delaware Memorial Bridge. This visual barrier will increase a sense of safety in the park while cleaning the air, filtering water and mitigating the effects of climate change.
The trees planted next to the highway will absorb gaseous pollutants like ozone, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide while capturing particulate matter on their surfaces.
Their placement near Magazine Ditch, which is a small waterway leading to the Delaware River, will prevent polluted storm water runoff by absorbing rainfall and slowing its flow into waterways.
This project aims to reduce the impact of exposure to environmental pollutants in a long-term sustainable way.
Return to Community Environmental Project Fund page.
Greenspace & Recreational Opportunities for Wellbeing (GROW) seeks to address the lack of access to nature, parks, and recreation for the community of Coverdale Crossroads by installing play equipment and access to green space in the form of a small-scale community park.
GROW will reduce the impact of pollution on communities and ensure equitable access specific to how the community views, uses and values recreational opportunities.
There are many factors that contribute to the lack of access to nature and recreation in the community. Providing access to recreational opportunities and green space reduces the impact of pollution on communities and creates a path to health, wealth and well-being.
Return to Community Environmental Project Fund page.
The Community Park Environmental Restoration & Education Campaign will revitalize four community parks—two in Dover and two in Wilmington—through environmental restoration, habitat enhancement and community engagement.
Each park will be adopted by one of four annual cohorts of Environmental Technician trainees, who will complete a capstone project focused on mitigating pollution, restoring safe recreational spaces and enhancing local biodiversity.
Activities include deep clean-ups, pressure washing and repainting of playground equipment, mulch replenishment and installation of pollinator gardens with educational signage on biodiversity and sustainable practices.
Long-term, the project will provide safe, accessible play areas for children, healthier ecosystems and empowered residents committed to maintaining and advocating for local green spaces, ensuring sustainable improvements and improved quality of life in communities impacted by pollution.
Return to Community Environmental Project Fund page.
Related Topics: assistance, communities, environmental justice, finance, funds, grants, loans, public involvement
Delaware's Governor
State Agencies
Elected Officials
General Assembly
Delaware Courts
State Employees
Cities & Towns
Delaware State Code
State Regulations
Business First Steps
Phone Directory
Locations Directory
Public Meetings
Voting & Elections
Transparency
Health Insurance
Tax Center
Personal Income Tax
Privacy Policy
Weather & Travel
Contact Us
Corporations
Franchise Tax
Gross Receipts Tax
Withholding Tax
Delaware Topics
Help Center
Mobile Apps
E-mail / Text Alerts
Social Media
