Centre Region Parks & Recreation Board / Centre Regional Recreation Authority
Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting
Thursday, 8 May 08 at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Barn
I. CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL
Vice Chair Roy Harpster called the meeting to order at 12:15 P.M.
Board members attending (5 of 6): Roy Harpster, Donna Conway, Kathy Matason, Chris Hurley, Dr. Donna Ricketts.
Absent: Sue Mascolo - with prior notification
Staff members: Director Ronald J. Woodhead, Recreation Supervisor - Sports & Fitness Jeff Hall, Recreation,
Recreation Supervisor Programs & Special Events, Supervisor - Nature Center Molly Hetrick, Aquatics
Supervisor Todd Roth, Parks Supervisor Greg Roth, Senior Center Director Barbara Lindenbaum, Office
Manager Diane Ishler.
II. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the April meeting were approved on a motion by Ms. Matason and seconded by Ms.
Conway. All in favor.
IV. ACTION ON VOUCHERS
The vouchers for April were approved on a motion by Ms. Ricketts and seconded by Ms. Matason. All in
favor.
V. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - Ms. Matason reported to the Advisory Committee
that the Authority received two awards: (1) The PA Center for Local Government Excellence
Award and an award from PSU RPTM Program for the staff and agency’s work with students. The
committee also discussed fund raising.
COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - The Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee did not meet in April;
they will meet on Thursday, 15 May 08.
Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members
- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: Ms. Matason reported that the Landscape &
Architecture students gave their report on their designs for Shamrock and Spring Creek
Estate (future park areas).
- Borough of State College: No report
- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: Mr. Harpster reported that Harris Township had a
park walk-through to see what updates are needed.
- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Mr. Hurley reported that the Patton Township Parks tour is
on 20 May 08. He also reported they discussed the possibility of an easement from Penn
State for foot access to the back side of the Bernel Road parklands.
- Ferguson Township: No report
- State College Area School District: Dr. Ricketts distributed the new SCASD Community
Education - Summer Program Guide.
VI. STAFF REPORTS
April 2008 Activity Report - Mr. Woodhead highlighted the status of the various grants. The YTD
operating revenue compared to the same period last year has decreased somewhat. But during April
the CRPR website hosted an average of 803 visitors per day - a new record.
Active.Net New Release and service update - Ms. Ishler reported that the system is working well with the
Internet revenue now over $15,000 since the Leisure Guide was published. So far this year, total
revenue is over $200,000. The front office staff really like the new system. Mr. Woodhead
received a verbal complaint that the news release prepared by Active.Net (but not published by the
CDT) was deceiving since it did not specify that there was a Convenience Fee for registering via the
Internet. Her thought was that (1) the agency should have absorbed the service fees and (2) that
CRPR should write their own computer software code “like Penn State does.” The Board members
reaffirmed their earlier decision that the customer who uses the service should pay for that service,
not the taxpayers.
Special Events, Volunteer days and agency displays - Ms. Hetrick reported that last Saturday, 3 May 08,
was “Comcast Cares” Day at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. 70 people accomplished a lot and
Ms. Hetrick was very pleased. Greg Roth stated it was a very productive group and they worked
really hard. Today (4-7PM) is the Ferguson Township Open House and later this month Harris
Township will have a similar event at Blue Spring Park. 26 Apr 08 (Saturday) was “Park Partner
Day” with 7 groups and approximately 100 volunteers participating.
20th Annual Centre County Senior Games - Ms. Lindenbaum stated that she was getting ready for Senior
Games and the flyers are being distributed. She also presented copies to the Board. Walking is
offered inside and outside and golf will be both 9 and 18 holes. Walking and bowling are the two
most popular events.
Other pending grants or award applications - Mr. Woodhead continued to keep the Board updated on the
status of these grants or award applications:
- State Capital Grant for the Nature Center (still seeking release)
- PA Conservation Corp Grant Application- Awarded for the 7th consecutive year. The local cost is
$5,000; total grant value $103,000.
- PA Fish & Boat Commission - $4,500 awarded to assist in funding a new “Flyfishing for Bass”
Youth Camp at the Nature Center. The program is being advertised on the website.
- PA Center for Local Government Excellence (for the municipal and community cooperation
related to the Nature Center) - Ms. Mascolo, Mr. Woodhead, Mr. Greg Roth and Ms. Hetrick
traveled to Harrisburg on 15 Apr 08 to accept the award. Two certificates awarded were
presented by the Lt. Governor at an Awards Luncheon and were displayed at the meeting.
- PA DCNR to prepare a Master Site Plan for the Whitehall Road Parklands - $40,000 awarded.
2009 Budget Process: “The Program Plan” - Mr. Woodhead shared that the Agency staff are starting to
work on the Program Plan for 2009. White our capital efforts are obvious for the next few years, he
asked the Board members to discuss any suggestions for new initiatives and what staff should
concentrate on for 2009.
Supervisor Highlights:
Molly Hetrick Recreation Supervisor for the Nature Center - Ms. Hetrick shared that Earth Day was held
20 Apr 08 despite the rain with approximately 250 participants. The PSU students did a great job in
planning the event. Since we received the PFBC grant, Ms. Hetrick has been preparing for an
additional camp; warm water Fly Fishing. The school group programs are in progress and are
booked through June.
Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor - Programs & Special Events - Ms. Lee stated she is promoting spring and
summer programs through various media. Wee KidVenture has had a dramatic increase in
registrations. This year the agency will be offering movies in the park and she is getting ready for
the first movie to be held on 30 May 08 using an inflatable screen; it will be held at Tudek Park.
Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - The park crew is mowing, the Fogleman Fields restrooms are being built,
they used burlap treated with a special insecticide to control gypsy moths on many park trees. The
state will be spraying some areas in the Region for gypsy moths. The PCC crew is working on the
fitness area at Sunset Park and then they will be back at Blue Spring Park for the playground
equipment.
Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - Adult basketball and volleyball are finished. There
are 75 youth who have signed up for Start Smart activities: soccer, basketball, golf & football. Girls
Softball, Adult Softball and Field Hockey have started. CRPR will be involved in the KAZ
(Keystone Active Zone) program for again this year. The kick-off is June 1 and should have over
100 activities involved. The KAZ Passports (for kids) can be obtained at the YMCA Kickoff. Mr.
Hall reported that he is trying to get a table there that we can use to promote CRPR programs and to
provide information. Parks & Recreation has included the Family Fun Nights, Youth Triathlon and
four sessions of youth tennis in the KAZ program. The program is available to youth in K-5 grades.
Barbara Lindenbaum Senior Center Director - Ms. Lindenbaum reported a good response from the bus trip
and everyone had a great time at the “Mad Hatter” tea party.
Todd Roth Aquatics Supervisor - Mr. Roth is hoping to fill Park Forest Pool tomorrow, 9 May 08. The
patching is done at Welch but they need to plug a few more holes in the pool shell. Most of the
staff is hired. 570 season passes have been sold to date; each year between 1,800 - 2,000 passes are
sold. Mr. Roth introduced the new “CRPR REC-Card that could be used Agency wide and reused
each year. With this card, it will also be possible to report how often each pass is used and where
they reside. This summer they will be used strictly for the pool passes with expanded use in the
future. Mr. Harpster asked if this would help track where people live who use our services. The
answer is yes.
VII.COMMUNICATIONS - None
VIII. ACTION ITEMS
Disk Golf Course Operations - Mr. Woodhead reported the Agency will be managing the new Disc Golf
Course at Circleville Park. He met with two local disc golf groups to help develop a process to
consider group reservation requests for the new Circleville Park Disc Golf Course. The groups
were Happy Valley Disk Golf Club and Centre Region Disc Flyers. Mr. Woodhead extended a
thanks to these groups for helping the staff learn about disc golf operations. He recommended to
the Board members that they considering authorizing the procedures for staff set forth in a Disc
Golf Course Policy included on the Agenda. Mr. Hurley related that his family in Ohio loves to play
disc golf and he endorses the game. Mr. Hurley moved to approve the procedures as stated in the
Agenda. Ms. Ricketts seconded. All in favor. The policy provides that if a group requests
exclusive use of the course, the Board will be asked for permission.
1X. INFORMATION ITEMS
A. Pool Renewal Funding Process - The closing for the Pool Renewal Loan was held on 1 May 08. Mr.
Woodhead thanked everyone who was involved in the process. Funds will only be borrowed as
they are needed to pay the invoices for the upcoming pool projects. The Agency now has $7.9m
available for the pool renewals. Closing costs were approximately $60,000 and Mr. Woodhead is
recommending that these costs be taken from the fund balance instead of from the loan proceeds.
B. Park Forest Pool Renewal Construction - PA DCNR approved the project for bidding with a question fo
why no zero depth entry was provided in the main pool. The architect responded to them with “there
was not enough room on the site” -which they agreed. The plans then went to Centre Region Code
Agency for their review while the bids are advertised, as previously authorized by the Authority.
The bids are scheduled to be opened on 4 Jun 08. The bids will be presented to the Authority by the
Architects at the regular meeting scheduled for Thursday, 12 Jun 08, to be held at Orchard Park.
The bid amounts will be relayed to the Authority shortly after the public opening.
The executed Reciprocal Parking Agreement between State College Area School District and the
Authority is being recorded by the Solicitor. After the agreement is recorded, copies will be
available.
C. Welch Pool Renewal - Master Site Plan - The Master Site Plan process is on hold pending resolution of
the shared parking/access proposal with the SCASD. The school district has provided the two
letters of supported requested at the 1 Apr 08 joint meeting. Mr. Woodhead reported that the Welch
construction grant application for $400,000 was submitted in April, as scheduled.
D. Regional Park Updates - Mr. Woodhead
Oak Hall Parklands - Master Site Plan - Pashek Associates has submitted a draft schedule for
consideration by the Project Study Committee (the CRRA and the Ad Hoc Regional Park
Committee). Each party to the Study Committee will be kept up to date on the progress of the
project. The public meetings will be held in the evening and the other committee meetings will be
held at lunch.
Whitehall Road Parkland Acquisition - Mr. Woodhead reported that the expected closing for the 75
acre tract, Whitehall Road Parkland, is 30 May 08.
Whitehall Road Parkland Grant Application - The Master Site Plan grant of $40,000 was approved
by PA DCNR in mid-April.
X. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM on a motion by Ms. Matason and
second by Ms. Ricketts. All in favor.
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for
Thursday, 12 June 08 at 12:15 PM, at Orchard Park
These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 17 Jun 08; they will now
be distributed to Municipal Managers, SCASD and posted on the CRPR website.
Meeting summary prepared by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager
