Whitehall Road Regional Park
Nestled near the Musser Gap Recreation Area, and between Route 45 and Whitehall Road, lies Whitehall Road Regional Park (future address is 1954 Blue Course Drive Extension). The first 75 acres of this park were purchased in 2008 with assistance from Ferguson Township and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as well as municipal funding. Again, with financial assistance from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Ferguson Township, and with the municipal funding in place, the remaining 25 acres were acquired in 2011. The 100-park went through an original master planning process in 2009-2010. In 2013, the Master Plan was updated.
The 2013 updated plan incorporates the following proposed features as previously suggested by the COG Parks Capital Committee and the Centre Region Parks & Recreation Authority:
- Increase the size of the site provided for the potential “field sports building” to accommodate a larger soccer field, and adjust the adjacent facilities as needed.
- Incorporate the recommended site for the Centralized Parks Maintenance Facility to replace the “park-specific maintenance area” originally proposed. The specific details and phasing of the Centralized Maintenance Facility will be discussed at a future time as the COG Facilities Committee and Authority continue to discuss the best location for this facility. This master plan only indentifies a possible site; any further action will require COG General Forum authorization.
- Incorporate a future site recommendation for a CRPR Agency Headquarters Building, in the event that those offices are moved from the COG Building on Gateway Drive. This plan only indentifies a possible site; any further action will require COG General Forum authorization.
- Show specifics regarding the proposed landscape buffers, stormwater provisions and building coverage calculations to better meet the Municipal Land Development requirements for the upcoming Phase 1 development project.
And since the 2013 update, the Centralized Maintenance Facility was requested to be removed from the Phase I Development; the Central Maintenance Facility remains as part of the Master Plan..
Development of the park was on hold for many years due to litigation with adjoining property; the landowners of the adjoining property had agreed through a public-private partnership to provide a large amount of infrastructure such as the entrance road, traffic light, PennDOT-required off-site improvements, and utilities such as water, sewer (plus a pump house), electric, and natural gas. Because that partnership was on hold during litigation, it did not make sense to build that park and spend funds on items that would be provided at no cost to the Agency. Therefore, CRPR, COG, and the interested public waited.
In December 2017, the litigation was finalized and the adjoining property owners were given approval to move forward with their land development plans. That green light allowed the public-private partnership to become active again which allows that infrastructure to be provided for the park's development; that infrastructure has a value of approximately $1.2 million dollars and allows the Agency to reinvest those funds in the Phase I development of the park.
The current Phase I development includes two tournament-sized rectangular (multi-purpose) fields with LED sports field lighting that can host various sports, special events, and more. In addition, this phase will include two medium-sized grass rectangular multi-purpose fields, parking, the "We Play Together" playground, an all-ability and universally-accessible playground, and a 12,000 linear foot walking path. The lights are upgrades that were proposed in the 2013 update to the Master Plan. At this time, the synthetic turf upgrade will be provided if parks and recreation is able to generate the additional revenue through grants and private fundraising.
In December 2019, the Land Development Plan was approved by Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors. In early 2020, the parks and recreation agency will be working toward finalizing the budget, reviewing funding levels, hiring a project management team, and beginning the bidding process. The Agency hopes to break ground in early summer 2020.
In 2021, the Agency and the CRPR Authority, along with the Council of Governments (COG), developed a web page with a more historical perspective about the project which includes the work done by the Ad-Hoc Regional Parks Committee, the predecessor to the COG Parks Capital Committee, as well as other documents like community surveys, the Master Plan, Phase I plan, and more. You can visit that site by clicking HERE.
To date, additional funding through grants and donations have been provided by:
- $300,000 DCNR Development Grant which is earmarked for the “We Play Together” All-Ability Playground (December 2018).
- $165,300 DCNR Development Grant for LED Sports Field Lighting (December 2019).
- $100,000 DCED Greenways, Recreation, and Trails grant for the LED Sports Field Lighting project (September 2019).
- The Authority also received pledges and grants, including:
► $193,750 pledge from the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau for the lighting project;
► $50,000 donation from the Geisinger Foundation for the playground;
► $40,360 donation from Ferguson Township for the landscaping plan;
► $30,000 donation of in-kind services from Stahl Shaeffer Engineering;
► $25,000 pledge from Fulton Bank toward the lighting project;
► $20,000 grant from USA Football for the lighting project;
► $15,000 pledge from First National Bank for the lighting project;
► $10,000 grant from the Truist Foundation for the playground;
► $10,000 donation from Sheetz for the lighting project;
► $10,000 donation from Keystone 10M Trees for the landscaping plan;
► $15,000 pledge from FirstEnergy Foundation for the playground;
► $8,625 from 2019 and 2020 Centre Gives for the playground;
► $5,000 grant from Autism Speaks for the playground;
► $5,000 donation from the Autism Opportunities Network, Inc. for the playground;
► $3,098 in memorial donations for plants and benches for the Mascolo Gardens; and
► $25,000 donation from the Centre County Growth and Adventure Partnership for field irrigation.
The park took a huge step forward with the awarding of contracts in late winter 2022 and a groundbreaking ceremony held on April 27, 2022. C-NET was on-site and filmed this long-awaited event. Despite the cold and blustery day, 65 folks turned out to brave the weather and listen to some history about the park's development, investments made to date, and where this project is going. To watch, click this LINK.
If you would like to support the development of the Whitehall Road Regional Park, particularly the artificial turf and LED sports field lights, and want to contribute financially to these projects, your donation is welcome, no matter the amount. Your help is greatly appreciated so that we can see this park through to its full development! For more information on donations to this park, please email the Agency, or use the donate button.