The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is putting millions of dollars toward preserving open space in Carbon County.

Two grants for a combined $3 million will go toward acquiring thousands of acres in the northern part of the county, stretching into Luzerne County.

DCNR recently awarded the grants to Wildlands Conservancy to help them purchase two properties, which will eventually be added to the state park and state forest systems.

State Sen. John Yudichak (I-Luzerne/Carbon) announced the awards on Friday.

One $2 million grant is going toward the purchase of 3,798 acres at an undisclosed location in Penn Forest and Kidder Townships. According to DCNR, that area will be added to Hickory Run State Park.

A second, $1 million grant will go toward the purchase of 3,000 acres northwest of Weatherly, which will become part of the Weiser State Forest.

DCNR officials were unavailable Friday to discuss the future plans for the properties.

Wildlands President Chris Kocher said he could only speak about the property near Weatherly.

The 3,000-acre property is located north of Spring Mountain Road. It spans Banks, Packer and Lausanne Townships, Weatherly Borough, and Foster and Hazle Townships in Luzerne County.

It includes parts of the Penrose Creek, Beaver Creek and Hazle Creek.

“The property supports a variety of plant species of special concern. We like to protect properties where rare and threatened plant and animal species exist.

Kocher said that the grant is an important part of assembling the funds to acquire the property. The sale of the property hasn’t been finalized.

“It’s a very large piece of property. This grant award represents an important piece of the funding puzzle as we match it together,” Kocher said.