Regional Parks | Centre Region Parks & Recreation

The Parks Capital Committee was formed in 2002 (as the COG Ad Hoc Regional Parks Committee) and for 2020 will continue to meet quarterly (January, April, July, and October) at 12:15 PM on the 2nd Thursday of the month at the COG Building Forum Room. Their meetings are conducted as Joint Meetings with the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority.

Originally, the committee was created to assist with the funding and oversight of the development of the regional parks in the Centre Region which includes the three parks noted below.
The Committee's responsibilities include:

To recommend the designation of regional park facilities (i.e., facilities involving joint capital funding such as regional parks, swimming pools, nature centers, etc.) to the General Forum.
To develop and recommend a funding strategy for the planning, development and operation of regional park facilities to the General Forum.
To cooperate with the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority in the preparation of recommended master site plans for regional recreation facilities for referral to the General Forum and/or the participating municipalities.
To study and prepare recommendations on regional parks as requested by the Executive Committee.

CRPR operates three regional parks that provide a multitude of services and amenities.

John Hess Softball Complex, located in Harris Township, is one of the main softball complexes for CRPR leagues and local and regional tournaments.

Oak Hall Regional Park, which opened in 2015, is another key park for active and passive recreation. This park is located in College Township and partially in Harris Township, and has one of the best views of Happy Valley and Mount Nittany. This park also serves as one of the main complexes for parks and recreation's softball leagues and local and regional softball tournaments. Youth and Adult Flag Football is also hosted at the park along with other activities. Passive recreation opportunities exist at this park as well.

Whitehall Road Regional Park is a 100-acre regional facility in Ferguson Township that welcomed its first visitors in July 2025 and is already serving as a popular community destination. The park is being developed in multiple phases to provide a balance of active and passive recreation opportunities. Phase I covers approximately 40–50 acres and includes the first set of facilities and amenities, with additional phases to come in future years. The approved Master Plan and Land Development Plan continue to guide the park’s long-term vision. The opening of the park marks an exciting milestone, with programming and daily use now underway.

These parks are defined as regional parks first and foremost because of how their purchase and construction were funded through the Centre Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) and the various municipal members, along with grant funding through the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. These parks are also considered regional because of the services they provide; while many of the programs and participants are Centre Region residents, there are many non-residents who travel to these facilities for tournaments or special events. Typically, a regional park also provides amenities that may not be hosted at other local neighborhood or community parks.

For park maps, amenities, and more details on the regional parks’ histories and oversight, please click on each park's name above for more information.