Five municipalities in the State College, PA, area have expanded their cooperation for parks and recreation to acquire, plan and develop two “regional” parks. These new parks will serve all residents in future years. The Oak Hall parklands consists of 68 acres and the Whitehall Road parklands is a 75-acre tract (more info here).
Click HERE for a map showing the location of the two regional park sites.

The primary focus of these two new, regional parks will be to:
• Provide outdoor, active recreation facilities close-to-home for individuals, families and groups;
• Promote the value of activity and fitness;
• Host community-based sport group and organization events for both youth and adult activities;
• Continue multi-municipal cooperation to meet the needs of residents.

Two public hearings were held and a web-based citizen survey was available for your voice to be heard.

Regional Park Planning Hearing #1	Regional Park Planning Hearing #2
Wed. 22 Oct 08, 7:30 PM at Mt. Nittany Middle School Cafeteria, 656 Brandywine Drive, State College Hearing #1 summary posted HERE.	Thur. 23 Oct 08, 7:30 PM at the Centre Region COG Building, Forum Room, 2643 Gateway Drive, State College Hearing #2 summary posted HERE.
Both hearings had the same AGENDA (in PDF Format) and were conducted by Pashek Associates, the Master Site Plan consultant for COG. Two (identical) meetings were scheduled to provide the opportunity for more resident involvement in the Regional Park Master Planning Process.

In addition to the planning meetings, the results of the surveys will be used to assist in creating the Master Site Plans for each new park. The survey questions were developed by Pashek Associates in cooperation with the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee and the CRPR Board. 
A. Early in September, a paper questionnaire with the same questions was mailed to 2,422 randomly-selected households across the Centre Region. 499 of the paper surveys were completed and returned by the mid-Sept. deadline.
B. During October, residents of the five participating municipalities were asked to complete the 15-question web survey (one person from each household on behalf of the members of their household). The web survey was available only through Sunday, 26 Oct 08. 538 web surveys were completed.
The results from both forms of this survey are POSTED HERE.

Funding assistance to prepare the Master Site Plans is being provided by the
PA DCNR "Community Conservation Partnership Program"
administered by the Bureau of Recreation & Conservation.