Regional Cooperation for Parks & Recreation
Regional Parks Introduction
During 2001, the COG Parks Capital
Committee (originally the COG Ad Hoc Regional Parks Committee) was formed to study and recommend options to the COG General Forum with regard to working together
to provide larger-size parks that address the shortage of outdoor sportfields in the region.
The committee consisted on one elected official from each of the five participating
municipalities: The Borough of State College and the Townships of College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton.
For 2009, the following officials serve on the COG Parks Capital
Committee:
• Dan Klees, College Township Council (Committee Chair)
• Jim Rosenberger, State College Borough Council (Committee Vice-Chair)
• Cliff Warner, Harris Township Board of Supervisors
• Jeff Luck, Patton Township Board of Supervisors
• Dick Mascolo, Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors
•
Dan Sieminski, Penn State University
The committee meets at 12:15 PM on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the COG Building Forum Room.
With the assistance
of Penn State University, a number of potential park sites were identified and evaluated - and
two sites were selected by the elected officials for cooperative, municipal actions
As a result of their monthly meetings and municipal cooperation, the COG
continues to make steady progress towards building larger parks for the future. All these actions are based upon a series of municipal agreements developed
during 2005 and 2006 among the five municipalities, which detail the ownership shares and
establish a procedure for the planning and phased development of these two parks. The
regional parks are intended to compliment each other with a focus on active (outdoor)
recreation facilities. The estimated costs and the construction schedules for each park are being established pending the completion of each Master Site Plan.
The process to acquire, master plan and develop these two parks is being coordinated by:
The Regional Park Planning Committee
A 12-member committee was formed in 2007 to oversee the Master Planning Process for both regional parks. The committee consists of the appointed members of the COG Parks Capital Committee and the Centre Regional Recreation Authority / CRPR Board.
COG Parks Capital Committee (6) |
Centre Regional Recreation Authority (6) |
• Dan Klees, College Township Council
• Jim Rosenberger, State College Borough Council
• Cliff Warner, Harris Township Board of Supervisors
• Jeff Luck, Patton Township Board of Supervisors
• Dick Mascolo, Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors
• Dan Seiminski, Penn State University |
• Sue Mascolo, Township of Ferguson
• Roy F. Harpster, Township of Harris
• Kathy D. Matason, Township of College
• Donna L. Conway, Borough of State College
• Donna M. Ricketts, D.Ed., SCASD
• Chris M. Hurley, Township of Patton |
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Please explore the information related to each park site:
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 During the Oak Hall Parkland Master Planning Process, a group of tennis players organized as the Centre Region Community Tennis Assn. (CRCTA) to "aid and encourage the growth of tennis as a year-round, lifelong sport for
youth and adults, including a large senior tennis-playing population, in the Centre
Region."
The CRPR Board was charged to hear their presentation and report back with a recommendation to the COG Parks Capital Committee. The Board then provided the group with a series of questions that the report should respond to. The CRCTA made their presentation to the CRPR Board on Thursday, 14 May 09. That report is posted here (in two parts) for public information:
The Proposal from the
Centre Region Community Tennis Assn. |
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The group has proposed the inclusion of a six-court,
covered and lighted tennis facility in the Master Plan for the Whitehall Road
Regional Parklands. During June or July, the CRPR Board is expected to consider their recommendation to the COG Parks Capital Committee on the matter. It is noted that the initiative for the regional parks has been based upon outdoor recreation facilities.
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With regard to the renewal of the two community swimming pools, please follow the
planning and construction processes HERE.
• A Master Site Plan for Park Forest Pool was completed and construction began in August 2008. More...
• The Master
Site Plan for the renewal of Wm. L. Welch Community Swimming Pool is now being completed
with construction proposed to begin in late-Sept 2009 (Welch Pool will remain open through Labor Day.
