The World of Little League Museum, the James V. Brown Library and two local communities are among the organizations and municipalities that have benefited from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund to provide dollars for improvements and upgrades to facilities.

Representatives were on hand at the Little League Museum Wednesday to share their Keystone Fund stories as part of a celebration of the program’s 25th anniversary.

“The Keystone Fund has meant a lot to Jersey Shore Borough,” borough manager Joseph Hamm said. “It’s allowed us to do significant projects.”

Without the funding, the borough would not have been able to construct the Pine Creek Rail Trail, he said.

Nearly $380,000 was secured through the Keystone Fund for that particular project. Almost $200,000 was received from the fund for the borough’s public river access project, Hamm said.

Other projects helped by those funds included renovations to the community pool.

Shannon Lukowsky, Loyalsock Township director of recreation and parks, said her community has received $948,000 in Keystone Funds since the allocations first began 25 years ago.

Among the projects have been creation of Riverfront Park, new playground equipment at James Short Park, and new tennis courts and a playground at Bruce Henry Park.

Barbara McGary, director of the James V. Brown Library, noted the different projects that received Keystone funding.

A $275,000 allocation for renovations in 1994 included installation of two elevators for ADA accessibility, upgrades to the security system, replacement of entrance doors, and addition of a third floor to the library.

Other projects funded included the two-story children’s wing addition, which opened in 2009. The $500,000 allocation was the maximum amount awarded for the grant.

Other improvements made possible through the Keystone Fund included upgrades to the Vintage Library’s Second Floor Collection, microfilm, Civil War and Pennsylvania History rooms as well as major renovations to the Vintage Library Main Circulation area.

Lance Van Auken, vice president of Little League Baseball, Inc., and executive director, Little League Museum, said the Keystone Fund has been of tremendous help to the museum.

In addition to renovations made to the physical site, funding has helped promote it.

State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, said the Keystone Fund provides a great boost to many communities for public projects.

“It’s really a diverse group of projects,” state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, said. “And guess what? To serve people.”

The Keystone Fund was established in 1993 by the state Legislature with a dedicated funding source of 15 percent share of the state’s realty transfer. The state’s voters gave its approval for the fund through a referendum, voting to supplement it with $50 million in bond revenues.

Lycoming County Commissioner Rick Mirabito said it’s important to note that taxpayers both pay for and benefit from the fund.