2005 Summer Program Report: 1 May through 5 Sep 05
23 Sept 05

Centre Regional Recreation Authority/ Centre Region Parks and Recreation Board

Cindy Solic, Chair
Daniel G. Linzell, Ph.D., P.E. , Vice-Chair
Kenneth Mawritz, Ph.D., Secretary
Roy F. Harpster, Treasurer
Sue Mascolo
Kathy Matason

Centre Region Parks & Recreation . . . Summer 2005

Centre Region Parks & Recreation operates as a result of the cooperation of the five participating municipalities. This report quantifies the many public recreation programs that took place this past summer. However, programs represent one part of our service to each municipality; an equally important responsibility involves maintaining municipal park facilities for residents to utilize for recreation on their own (as a family or with a group). Thanks to to continued community support, it was an exciting summer for the agency and for Centre Region residents. “CRPR - Where Everyone Plays!”

                                                                                                             Ronald J. Woodhead, Director

I think the new names for the camps gave them a new image and really helped in attracting participants this year. I was extremely pleased with the attendance for KIDVenture and Wee KIDVenture Camps. Since we did not have to reserve spaces for the SCASD Sports & Shorts this year, we were able to fill camps to capacity almost every week. Now that we have improved the visibility of the camps, we will keep the programs up-to-date and competitive with other camps in the area. I will also be working on different options for teens since the numbers for the Supervised Playgrounds have been decreasing over the past 3 summers. Touch-A-Truck (listed with special events on page 3) was a new event for CRPR this summer and had a fabulous turnout. We had many different types of tucks & heavy equipment from many townships, the Borough, businesses, and our sponsors: Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. and Cleveland Brothers. I look forward to an even better event in 2006.

                                                                                                    Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor - Programs & Special Events

Youth tennis lessons were offered at Green Hollow Park but only one of the eight classes offered had a high enough enrollment to be held. We will reevaluate those classes for next summer. The adult softball league remains very popular; adding a 3^rd adult field would enable us to add more teams to the league (we had 4 teams on the waiting list this year). The girls fast pitch softball program was new this summer and was a quality program even with limited enrollment.

                                                                                                    Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports & Fitness

Our varied summer programs and outings included the Centre County Senior Games, the community service craft sale during the Arts Festival, and group picnics.

                                                                                                    Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director

* Some of these numbers were also included in the Winter/Spring Report.

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center hosted programs by State College Area School District, ClearWater Conservancy, Scout groups, Shavers Creek Environmental Center, CALL, Youth Service Bureau, Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center, and Penn State University. Additional nature / educational, cultural, & historical programs will be held in the fall by CRPR and other organizations. The opportunity to have birthday parties at the marsh was added in 2005 and has been well received. With group programs, the center is limited by current facilities in it’s ability to increase program opportunities.

                                                                                                    Molly Hetrick, Recreation Supervisor - Nature Center

 AQUATICS

The summer weather for 2005 was perfect for operating swimming pools. Operations were smooth, but season passes still haven’t rebounded from the poor 2003 and 2004 seasons. Swim lessons have also continued their steady decline, but are still relatively strong in overall numbers. The ‘Family Fun’ Nights at the pools (included in the Special Programs section on Page 3) were very successful and will be continued in 2006.                                                 Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor

Parks Maintenance and Municipal Park Improvements

Some park maintenance highlights from this past summer include:

►            The PCC finished installing single- table picnic shelters at Graysdale, High Point, Fasick and Green Hollow Parks.

►            Completed Hurricane Ivan repairs to MMNC boardwalk, Spring Creek volleyball court and rebuilt bridges at Fasick Park.

►            The PCC installed a new spiral sliding board at Blue Spring Park and swings and climbing wall at Kaywood Park.

►            Installed a new climbing wall at Central Parklet.

►            With PCC, assembled new soccer equipment for Fogleman Fields and opened the fields for use.

Municipal Park Improvements:

►            S.C. Borough - Constructed a Children's Village at Central Parklet, an artificial wetland at Walnut Spring Park and a

                            connection path from Lederer Park to Thompson Woods Preserve.

►            College Township - Completed the new tennis court at Nittany Orchard Park.

►            Ferguson Township - Installed a new pavilion at Autumnwood Park.

►            Harris Township - Purchased new playground equipment for Blue Spring and Kaywood Parks and prepared the safety pits for

                            equipment installation.

►            Patton Township - Installed new water fountains at Woodycrest, Park Forest Tot lot, Green Hollow and Oakwood Parks.

                            Installed new playground multi-purpose apparatus, swings, slides and a pavilion at Green Hollow Park.

                                                                                      Greg Roth, Parks Supervisor

Report Compiled by Todd A. Roth, Aquatics Supervisor