Whitpain Township will get $500,000 in state grant money to build a new community center with a fitness room, an elevated walking track, meeting rooms and two basketball courts that convert into six pickleball courts.

The grant, announced July 17 by state Rep. Matt Bradford, D-70th Dist., comes from Pennsylvania's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, a state program that funds civic and recreational construction. Bradford, who serves as House Majority Leader, said the funding also covers improvements to the facility's lighting, parking and trails, though his statement did not specify whether those are included in the same $500,000 allocation.

"Both of these projects will create and improve recreational spaces for our community, giving kids and adults alike opportunities to play, exercise and gather together," Bradford said in a statement. "I'm grateful to the Shapiro Administration for investing in our community."

The Whitpain grant is part of a broader $10.2 million RACP package that Bradford and state Rep. Greg Scott, D-54th Dist., announced for Montgomery County projects between July 17 and July 20.

In Plymouth Meeting, Gemma Services received $250,000 to construct a turf athletic field and short track at its campus on West Township Line Road. Gemma Services is a nonprofit formed in 2019 that operates a psychiatric residential treatment program for children ages 6 to 14.

Scott, whose 54th District covers Plymouth Township, Norristown and Conshohocken, announced $9.2 million in RACP grants for his district. That total includes the Gemma Services field, $5 million for a new North America exhibit at Elmwood Park Zoo, $3 million for Main Street Norristown construction, and $500,000 each for the Norristown Public Library and the Montgomery County Senior Adult Activity Center.

No construction timeline, site location or total project cost for the Whitpain community center has been announced beyond the $500,000 state grant. Whitpain Township has not publicly indicated whether it will commit additional funding to the project.