The Hess Softball Field Complex Facility Evaluation Report

On 28 Sep 09, the COG General Forum approved a contract to engage Pashek Associates to prepare a Facilities Evaluation Report of the 21-acre Hess Softball Field Complex in Harris Township. The cost of the evaluation was set at a not-to-exceed price of $8,000; the project was based upon these tasks (PDF).  The property is currently owned by the Hess Family estate and operated by the State College Area Softball Association.

The basis of the General Forum's action was to prepare for a forthcoming request from Harris Township for the region to assist with assuring the continued operation of the softball complex.  The future viability of the softball fields is an important question to resolve as part of the park master planning efforts now underway by the COG for the two new regional parks (68 acres at Oak Hall and 75 acres off Whitehall Road). 

The Hess Softball Field Complex

• "Facilities Evaluation Report" (30 pages) is available HERE (0.6 MB PDF)
• A 36" x 24" Site Plan (with notations) is also available HERE (1.9 MB PDF)
• The slideshow presented to the COG General Forum by Mr. Pashek on 26 Oct 09 (not recommended for dial-up connections).
  

A summary of the report findings was presented by Mr. Pashek to the COG Regional Parks Planning Committee on 12 Oct 09.  The committee held a Hess Field site visit on Monday, 19 Oct 09. 

The report was presented to the COG Executive Committee on 20 Oct 09 where they approved the item for placement on the COG General Forum agenda for 26 Oct 09.  In addition, Harris Township officials presented their proposal for regional consideration of the facility, which was also be forwarded for COG General Forum discussion.

The motion approved by the COG General Forum directs the COG Parks Capital Committee to evaluate the proposal and report back.