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 The WHITEHALL ROAD
REGIONAL PARKLANDS
in Ferguson Township
(Map of parklands)
UPDATE AUGUST 2011:
The site is located near the intersection of Blue Course Drive and Whitehall Road in Ferguson Township. The two tracts that will host the future Whitehall Road Regional Park were acquired from Penn State University in May 2008 (75 acres) and May 2011 (25 acres). Using a planning process similar to the Oak Hall initiative, the Master Site Plan was developed using a number of hearings, interviews and municipal meetings. The Master Site Plan (shown below) was approved by the 5 participating municipalities in August 2010. The proposed Phase 1 development plan (on 75 of the 100 acres) for Whitehall Road Regional Park includes:
• 7 rectangular sportfields and one rectangular practice field.
• 1 larger diamond-shaped baseball field.
• Regional playground.
• Basketball court.
• One large community pavilion.
• Phase 1 parking and related interior park roads.
• One set of restrooms with flush toilets and concession stand.
• Perimeter trail and interior walkways serving the Phase I facilities.
• All grading, erosion and sediment control and stormwater management for the 75-acre parcel.
The Approved Plan (100 acres)...
On 23 Aug 2010, the COG General Forum adopted a resolution to approve the Master Site Plan & Report, subject to the incorporation of the comments and suggestions from the five municipalities and from PA DCNR. The documents below incorporate those revisions.
A detailed PDF version of the plan shown above is available HERE (4.43 MB)
Project History...
Acquisition #1 (75-acres, May 2008) (Map of parklands)
In 2006, the state announced that they would assist the COG in the purchase from Penn State of
a 75-acre tract for future parklands near the intersection of Blue Course Drive and
Whitehall Road. In 2005 the lands were officially appraised at $15,000 per acre; the purchase price was $3,077 per acre. The acquisition was completed on 30 May 2008 and the parklands are now jointly owned by the Centre Region COG and Ferguson Township.
In total, the 75-acre parkland acquisition cost $249,506.24. Funds for this purchase were provided by:
• The PA DCNR grant of $159,000 (Acquisition Project #BRC-ACQ-12-70).
• Ferguson Township provided the balance of $90,506.24 |
Master Site Plan (2008-2010):
On 21 Apr 08, the COG was notified that they would assist in funding a Master Site Plan for the entire 100-acre site (Project #BRC-TAG-13.6-589).
A selection process then got underway for a consulting firm to prepare the plan (see below).
The Master Site Plan was then developed.
On 23 Aug 2012, the COG General Forum approved the plan. The final cost of the plan was $63,332; 50% of which was paid by the state. The remaining cost of $31,666 was provided by the five participating municipalities.
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Acquisition #2 (25-acres, May 2011) (Map of parklands)
In late-2012 the state announced that they would assist the COG in the purchase from Penn State of
the final 25-acre tract for future parklands near the intersection of Blue Course Drive and
Whitehall Road. That purchase occurred on 27 May 2011 and the parklands are now jointly owned by the Centre Region COG and Ferguson Township. In total, the 25-acre parkland acquisition cost $382,987. In 2010, two appraisals established that the land was valued at $15,000 per acre, which also established the purchase price.
Funds for this purchase were provided by:
• The PA DCNR grant provided $191,000 (Acquisition Project #BRC-ACQ-16-21).
• The Centre Region COG provided $134,237.
• Ferguson Township provided $57,750. |
WHITEHALL ROAD Parkland - Master Plan Process 2008 - 2010 |
| • The data collected by Master Site Planning Process in 2008 & 2009 for the Oak Hall Regional Parklands from meetings, surveys and interviews was also used to guide this plan. Click HERE to review that information. |
• CLICK HERE to review the 3 Concept Plans posted for comments. |
 • You helped plan a Regional Park!
Park Planning Hearing #1 was held on for
Wednesday, 21 Oct 2009, 7-9:00 PM
Residents were invited to help guide the development of the Master Site Plan for the new regional park (75 acres) off Whitehall Road near Blue Course Drive by attending the Park Planning Hearing on Wednesday, 21 Oct 09, 7:00-9:00 PM at the Centre Region COG Forum Room, 2643 Gateway Drive, State College, PA. This plan is intended to complement the Master Site Plan for the Oak Hall regional parklands. |
Public Hearing Documents (for 21 Oct 09) |
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 • The Regional Parks Planning Committee met on Monday, 7 Dec 2009 to hear an update from the landscape architects on their work since the Planning Hearing held in October. Based on comments made at that meeting and received since that time, the first "Master Site Plan" was presented for comments. The draft Master Site Plan has proposed the following facilities:
- Diamond-shaped Sportfields (5) for softball or baseball, sized for youth and adult play
- Rectangular Sportfields (11) for soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, ultimate frisbee, field hockey
- 2 Core Service Areas with picnic pavilions, playground areas and restrooms
- Tennis Complex (12 courts total)
- 3 parking areas with drop-off zones
- Community Garden area
- Dog Park area
- Preserved woodlot
- Perimeter walking path
- Parks Maintenance Area and Tree Nursery
- A Trailhead for the Musser Gap Bikeway / Greenway
- An emphasis on incorporating sustainability for all park facilities.
Review the details of Draft Plan Version #1 HERE.
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COMMUNITY MEETING #2 on the draft Master Site Plan for
WHITEHALL ROAD REGIONAL PARK
was held on 23 Feb 2010.
Draft Plan Version #2 (shown below) of the proposed Master Site Plan Layout was presented and discussed. 81 individuals attended. This plan provided the basis for the final, approved plan (shown below).
Whitehall Road Regional Parklands
Draft Plan Version #2: Click HERE to view the large-scale plan (PDF 2.7 MB)
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On 26 April 2010, the COG Parks Capital Committee presented their Regional Park recommendations to the COG General Forum. A PDF version of that presentation is available HERE (PDF, 1 MB).
The topic was again discussed by the COG General Forum on 24 May 2010. |
LAYOUT PLAN Endorsed
On 28 Jun 2010, the proposed Layout Plan for the Whitehall Road Regional Parkland was approved by the COG General Forum. The Layout Plan was recommended by the COG Regional Parks Planning Committee on 8 Jun 2010 and will permit the completion of the draft Master Site Plan Report during July. |
"MASTER SITE PLAN & REPORT" Approved for the
Whitehall Road Regional Parklands
Updated 25 Aug 2010
On 23 Aug 2010, the COG General Forum adopted a resolution to approve the Master Site Plan & Report, subject to the incorporation of the comments and suggestions from the five municipalities and from PA DCNR. The documents below incorporate those revisions.
A detailed PDF version of the plan shown above is available HERE (4.43 MB)
The Approved Park LAYOUT PLAN is available HERE (PDF 4 MB). (In Adobe Reader, click on View, Rotate, Clockwise.).
The Approved Park PHASING PLAN is available HERE (PDF 4 MB). (In Adobe Reader, click on View, Rotate, Clockwise.).
The final, complete, approved, 302-page MASTER SITE PLAN REPORT is available HERE (PDF 23 MB) |
The approved application that will permit public sewer service to the
Whitehall Road Regional Parklands
is available HERE
(3.8 MB PDF File)
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Updated documents related to the proposed scope of phase 1 construction (24 Feb 2011) |
INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING THIS PROJECT?
Please subscribe HERE to the free eNewsletters from CRPR for the "Regional Parks." |
Return to the Regional Park Introduction Page
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Centre Region Council of Governments
