1981

New Senior Citizens Club established in Halfmoon Township.

Department sponsored Municipal Band and Nittany Valley Symphony Orchestra concerts.

Adventure park program starts.

Guidelines presented for capital park expenditures in Harris Township.

Ron Weis named the department’s Volunteer of the Year.

Borough receives grant for the acquisition of additional land for Sunset Park.

Conversion of oil to gas at Welch Pool (for heating the pool water).

Bids received for a Fit Trail and Play Equipment for Orchard Park.

Borough receives a matching grant of $5,000 from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts.

Summerfest, a series of open-air arts events presented in several parks.

Kenneth C. Fogleman receives the Theodore Martain Johnson Memorial Soccer Award.

1982

The Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs (DCA) selected the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Department for an award in its Community Recreation Award Program. The Department was one of only three in the state to receive an award in the competitive award category for interagency cooperation.

Acquisition of land for the expansion of Sunset Park was approved and a State Grant for $40,000 was received for the acquisition.

The Department joined with hundreds of other departments across the country in a program known as “Life, Be In It.”

A matching grant of $2,000 was received from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts for Summerfest ‘82.

A new park was established by Patton Township - Oakwood Park.

Orchard Park in the Borough of State College was developed with a Fit-Trail, playground equipment, and picnic facilities.

A Solar Roll Proposal was presented to COG for heating the Welch Pool.

A feasibility study for the renovation of the Welch and Park Forest Pools was presented to COG.

Park improvements were made at Kaywood and Country Place in Harris Township.

Mt. Nittany Savings and Loan Association provided a donation for park equipment in Fairbrook Park, Ferguson Township, and financial resources for the annual Easter Egg Hunt and a Day in the Park for Senior Citizens at Spring Creek Park, College Township.

Mary Ellen Blencoe was named the Department’s Volunteer of the Year.

1983

A gift catalog of recreation and park needs was developed and distributed.

An informational guide to Municipal Parks in the Centre Region was developed and distributed. This was the first guide ever published of this type and the printing of the guide was made possible by a donation from McDonald’s Restaurants.

A grant was obtained from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and with the financial help from the Borough of State College, Summerfest ‘83 was held in Holmes-Foster Park.

Two new parks were added to the system. Orchard Park, located in the Borough of State College, and Oakwood Park, located in Patton Township.

The Department sponsored a special program on June 4, known as Superday, in which people of all ages participated.

The Department was recognized as one of the leading departments in the state of Pennsylvania for its work on the “Life, Be In It” program and was given a Merit Award by the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs.

1984

The Middle Atlantic Region of the National Recreation and Park Association presented the Department with an award for its outstanding work in the program “Life, Be In It.”

A grant was obtained from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts for Summerfest ‘84, a series of visual performing arts programs held in Holmes-Foster Park.

New park equipment was installed in Graysdale Park, Park Forest Tot-Lot, Fairbrook Park, and Holmes-Foster Park.

New restrooms and a new picnic shelter added to Sunset Park.

1985

Automatic pool water quality (chemical) controllers were installed at the Park Forest and Welch Pools.

The firm of GWSW, Inc. was retained to complete a comprehensive Recreation and Park Plan. A state grant was received to pay 50% of the Park Plan for the Recreational Improvement and Rehabilitation Act Program.

A grant was obtained from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts for Summerfest ‘85.

Park improvements were made in Woodycrest Park in Patton Township.

A Playbooster (a brand of modular playground equipment) was installed in Sunset Park in the Borough of State College.

A new restroom was constructed in Holmes-Foster Park in the Borough of State College.

Park improvements were made in Dalevue Park in College Township.

New play apparatus installed in Willowbrook Park in Harris Township.

1986

Administrative office moves from the borough office to Fraser Plaza.

Computer added to office equipment.

Administrating role given to Department for operation of the Centre Region Senior Citizens’ Center.

Play equipment installed and landscaping completed at East Fairmount Park.

Park improvements made at Slab Cabin and Dalevue Park.

A grant was obtained from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts for Summerfest ‘86.

Restroom constructed at Orchard Park.

A grant was obtained under R.I.R.A. for a master site development plan for Lederer Park.

1987

Department received the State College Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award.

Water Slide was installed at the William L. Welch Community Swimming Pool.

A grant of $8,000 was received by Harris Township for new play equipment at Blue Spring Park under the State’s Recreation Improvement and Rehabilitation Act.

A grant of $3,000 was obtained from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts for Summerfest ‘87.

A grant of $50,000 was obtained under LWCF for Lederer park.

Department introduced the National Youth Sports Coaches Association Certification Program.

1988

Sarah Godbey Playground established in Green Hollow Park, Patton Township.

Borough of State College received a grant under the acquisition program of the Recreational Improvement and Rehabilitation Act for $10,683 for the Leary Tract.

Harris Township received a grant of $8,000 under the Small Communities/Small Projects of the Recreational Improvement and Rehabilitation Act for play equipment at Blue Spring Park.

CRPR became a member of C-Net/24.

The Borough of State College received word that a grant of $4,500 from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts would be reserved for Summerfest ‘89.

New play equipment was installed in South Hills Park in the Borough of State College.

The Centre Region Cultural Center Task Force was established.

Daniel Shoffner was named recipient of the Theodore Martin Johnson Memorial Soccer Award.

1989

Ferguson Township received a grant under the acquisition program of the Recreation Improvement and Rehabilitation Act for $100,000 for the Tudek Tract.

First phase of the Lederer Park Development was completed in the borough of State College.          

Held first Senior Games in the Centre Region.

Provided staff support for the first Festival of Cultures event in State College.

Completed a Parks and Recreation documentary for C-Net/24.

Completed a tree planting program and installed new backstop at Fairbrook Park in Ferguson Township.

Installed new play equipment in Smithfield Park in the Borough of State College.

New picnic shelter installed in Spring Creek Park by College Township.

Sponsored the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters Concert.

New park improvements completed in Fasick Park by Harris Township.

1990

The acquisition of the Tom Tudek Memorial Park in Ferguson Township and the receiving of the $100,000 grant from the State Recreational Improvement and Rehabilitation Act Program for that purpose.

The completion of the $100,000 LWCF Grant for the development of Lederer Park in the Borough of State College.

The implementation of the first Centre Region Iron Kids Mini-Triathlon.            

A $3,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts for Summerfest ‘90.

The installation of new play structures in the Borough of State College and the Townships of College, Ferguson, and Harris.

The approval of renovation plans for the Park Forest Pool in Patton Township.