 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 consists 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 2010, the following officials serve on the COG Parks Capital
Committee:
• Dan Klees, College Township Council (Committee Chair)
• Cliff Warner, Harris Township Board of Supervisors (Committee Vice-Chair)
• Jim Rosenberger, State College Borough Council
• Jeff Luck, Patton Township Board of Supervisors
• Richard Killian, Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors
•
Dan Sieminski, Penn State University
The committee meets at 12:15 PM on the 3rd Thursday of each month, 12:15 PM at the COG Building Forum Room: 2010: Feb. 1, Feb. 18, Mar. 18, Apr. 15, May 20, Jun. 17 (Jun 8), Jul. 15, Aug. 19, Sep. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Dec. 16;
2011:
Jan. 20.
So what makes the “Regional Parks” different?
To date, the municipal parks have been acquired and built by the host municipality; the annual costs to program, operate and maintain the parks are then shared by the five municipalities. However, a new approach was needed to address the shortage of public sportfields across the region. Given the land area required for a group of sportfields combined with the high cost of construction, Regional Parks offer an efficient option for the region to provide those facilities to all residents. Discussion and action regarding this option is only possible thanks to the long history of municipal cooperation in the Centre Region.
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As a result of their monthly meetings and municipal cooperation, the COG
continues to make steady progress towards building larger parks for the future. 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. During 2005 and 2006 a number of municipal agreements were prepared and approved which detail the ownership shares and
establish a procedure for the planning and phased development of these two parks. As a result, the
regional parks are intended to complement each other, with a common 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 page section below is under construction. Thank you for understanding.
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.
Click HERE to review the committee meeting documents.
2010 COG Parks Capital Committee (6) |
2010 Centre Regional Recreation Authority (6) |
• Dan Klees, College Township Council
• Cliff Warner, Harris Township Board of Supervisors
• Jim Rosenberger, State College Borough Council
• Jeff Luck, Patton Township Board of Supervisors
• Richard Killian, 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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On 26 April 2010, the COG Parks Capital Committee presented their Regional Park recommendations to the COG General Forum. A PDF version of that presentation is available HERE (PDF, 1 MB).
The topic was again discussed by the COG General Forum on 24 May 2010. |
| On 28 Jun 2010, the proposed Layout Plan for the Whitehall Road Regional Parkland was approved bythe COG General Forum. The Layout Plan was approved by the COG Regional Parks Planning Committee on 8 Jun 2010 and, with the endorsement of the COG General Forum, will permit the completion of the draft Master Site Plan Report.The Layout Plan is available HERE (PDF, 2.8 MB). (In Adobe Reader, click on View, Rotate, Clockwise.) |
Draft "MASTER SITE PLAN REPORT" Released
Whitehall Road Regional Parklands
Updated 23 July 2010
On Monday, 26 Jun 2010, the Regional Park Planning Committee will present the draft Master Site Plan Report to the COG General Forum (7:30 PM in the COG Bldg. Forum Room). During the next month each municipality will be asked to provide comments on the draft - for action at the General Forum meeting on 23 Aug 2010.
The 117-page "No Appendix" version of the draft report is available HERE (5 MB PDF).
To reduce the file size, this version of the draft report does not contain the appendix documents.
The full-version (328 pages) of the draft report is available HERE (18.5 MB PDF).
This version of the draft report contains the appendix documents. |
Please explore the information related to each park site:
• The OAK HALL
REGIONAL PARKLANDS
68-acres
in College and Harris Townships (Photo of parklands) |
• The WHITEHALL ROAD REGIONAL PARKLANDS
75-acres
in Ferguson Township (Map of parklands) |
THE
HESS SOFTBALL FIELD COMPLEX
"Facilities Evaluation Report"
available HERE. |
 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. It is noted that the initiative for the regional parks has been based upon outdoor recreation facilities. 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. |
The Oak Hall Regional Parklands were purchased from Penn State University by COG in July 2005. In total, the 68-acre parkland acquisition cost $461,627. A PA DCNR grant provided $300,000 of that amount; College Township provided $156,627 and Harris Township provided $5,000.
During 2008 & 2009 the Master Site Plan was prepared with the assistance of Pashek Associates and funded by the COG municipalities and a state grant. The master planning process involved a number of public hearings, meetings with community recreation groups, interviews and public surveys - and that input provided the basis for the facilities to be developed at both regional parks. This was an important emphasis since the two regional parks will be designed to serve the needs of the region far into the future and to complement each other, rather than duplicate existing park facilities in the Centre Region.
The final master plan reflects the project goals:
1) Accommodate a program of active recreation.
2) Provide a program of complementary recreation activities.
3) Respect the opportunities and limitations of the site.
4) Respect the adjacent community.
5) Create a beautiful and dignified park space that will improve over the years, find acceptance in the community, and become a valued asset to the region.
The plan provides for three adult softball fields, playground and pavilion area, perimeter walking trail, off-leash dog park, open meadow areas, sledding area and parking. The entire Master Site Plan Report is available HERE for review. The plan was officially approved by the COG General Forum on 26 Oct 09.
NOTE: The Master Site Planning Process (2008-2009) for this park included some important work on the basis
of the Whitehall Road Parkland Plan.
More Oak Hall Parkland details HERE.
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The Whitehall Road Regional Parklands were purchased from Penn State in May 2008 at a cost of $249,506. A grant from PA DCNR provided $159,000 of that amount; Ferguson Township funded the balance of $90,506. The parklands are located near the intersection of Blue Course Drive and Whitehall Road.
The purchase of an adjacent 25-acre tract is under consideration and will be included in the park planning project (for 100 acres total).
During 2008 the Commonwealth announced the approval of a $40,000 grant application to prepare a Master Site Plan for the future regional park. Recently, the COG General Forum selected Pashek Associates to prepare this plan - which should be completed in 2010. The Master Site Planning Process for this park is underway. The first public hearing was held on 21 Oct 09. The second public hearing was held on 23 Feb 2010. Click HERE for meeting details.
Community participation remains a vital part of CRPR operations and planning. All residents are invited to explore the CRPR website, enjoy each municipal park, participate in CRPR activities and in the park planning process. explore the CRPR website, enjoy each municipal park, participate in CRPR activities and in the park planning process.
Whitehall Road Parkland
Master Site Planning
details HERE.
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With regard to the renewal of the two community swimming pools,
please follow the
planning and construction processes HERE.
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