Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority
The mission of the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority (CRPRA) is to serve Centre Region residents of all ages throughout the year with a variety of recreation opportunities and access to facilities to enrich their lives through participation in programs, facility use, provision of leadership resources and technical assistance, and serving the participating municipalities' residents and groups.
The Authority membership includes five municipalities--the Borough of State College and the Townships of College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton--and the State College Area School District. Each municipality appoints one volunteer representative to serve a five-year term on the Authority, plus one representative from the State College Area School District who is appointed by State College Borough Council. In October 2011, the five participating municipalities re-authorized the future of the Authority for January, 2012 through December, 2061.
2026 Authority Members
| Name | Municipality |
|---|---|
| Kathy Matason (Chair) | College Township |
| Tom Daubert (Treasurer) | State College Borough |
| Chris Murrell | Harris Township |
| Jen Black | State College Area School District |
| Corey Gracie-Griffin (Vice Chair) | Ferguson Township |
| Clara Franklin | Patton Township |
The Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority typically meets on the third Thursday of each month at 12:15 PM for their regular meeting, which is open to the public; during the colder months, the meetings are typically held in the Centre Region COG Building’s Forum Room. During the warmer months, the Authority will rotate its meeting to various parks and facilities throughout the region. Past agendas, past meeting minutes, and the current meeting schedule are posted on the Centre Region Council of Governments (COG) website.
Additionally, the Authority meets jointly with the Centre Region COG Parks Capital Committee. These meetings are typically held at 12:15 PM, and the meeting is open to the public. Past Joint Meeting agendas and minutes as well as the current meeting schedule are posted on the COG website.
Important Resources:
- Centre Region Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Comprehensive Plan (2020).
- 2014 Authority By-Laws
- History
Many members of the Authority also participate in their municipality's Parks and Recreation Committee; this dual service provides a great conduit between the Authority/Agency and the municipality. Typically, information that is shared includes Capital Improvement Projects, timelines of various park improvements, recommended programming for the community, policies and procedures, and more.