Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority Annual Report 2018 by Centre Region Parks & Recreation Authority

2018 Annual Report

Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority

Table of Contents Welcome Letter from Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority Welcome Letter from Centre Region Parks and Recreation Director Who Are We? Partners Who We Serve Agency and Authority Historical Highlights Regional Facility Highlights Facilities and Program Data: Active Adult Center Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Parks Maintenance Sports Leagues and Tournaments Programs and Special Events Aquatics Agency Administration, Marketing, and Community Presence

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2018 Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority Members Front Row (l to r): Shannon Messick, Vice-Chair (SCASD), Diane Ishler, Treasurer (Harris Township), and Kathy Matason, Chairperson (College Township). Back Row (l to r): Cindy Solic (Patton Township), and Jim Dunn (State College Borough). Not pictured: Denise Meyer, Secretary (Ferguson Township)

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Welcome Letter from the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority As I looked over my notes and minutes from the 2018 Authority meetings, I was reminded of the many strides that your Centre Region Parks and Recreation Agency made during the year. Some were baby steps, some were giant leaps, but all kept us moving forward. The Centre Region continues to be one of the best places to live, work, and play in Pennsylvania and your CRPR Agency contributes to this “claim to fame.” The year started with the first-ever Winter Carnival in Blue Spring Park in Harris Township. There were lots of winter activities, burn barrels for warming up, and refreshments. This event will be held annually and will continue to give participants an opportunity to enjoy winter programming. In other programming news, parking for the swimming season at Welch Pool was impacted slightly by construction activities at the State College Area High School. The pool contractors worked with CRPR staff to provide adequate, safe parking, and we got through our second summer of construction activity on the pool’s side of Westerly Parkway.

Chris Hurley, Patton Township, went off the Authority in January, 2018.

2018

One challenge for programming is the completion of the Spring Creek Education Building at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center plus the addition of a much-needed Welcome Pavilion. Fundraising continued throughout the year and was given a boost by a generous donation from the Hamer Foundation. Look for our second Barn Dance in 2019, a fundraiser that will be sure to get your feet tapping!

I’m happy to report that we met regularly with the architects and engineers working on the design for Whitehall Road Regional Park. It’s been a long time coming, with delays that were out of our control. However, once the red lights turned green, Agency staff and Authority volunteers were on the move with planning, design evaluations, and obtaining all needed approvals from the COG General Forum and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). We plan to submit the land development plan to Ferguson Township in the spring of 2019. In a partnership with DCNR to conduct the Centre Region Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Study, we put together a steering committee comprised of representatives from all the municipalities in the Centre Region. Informally knows as the “Comp Study,” this project will provide the opportunity for residents to weigh-in on the recreation needs of our community. The consultants working on the Comp Study will meet with stakeholders, conduct a public meeting, and survey residents both online and via US Postal Service mail. Results of this study, due in the last quarter of 2019, will help the Agency and the Authority in planning for the future. Speaking of the future, be on the lookout for “Rec On The Go.” Agency staff are outfitting a box truck that will bring mobile programming to a variety of Centre Region park locations. For those of you using the Active Adult Center, in early 2019 you will see new sliding doors and signage, brought to you through a PA Department of Aging. A $300,000 grant from DCNR will contribute to construction of the All-Ability playground at Whitehall Road Regional Park. And, starting in January, you will be able to see our Authority meetings on C-Net. We started that partnership so everyone will have the opportunity to see what is happening in the Centre Region in Parks and Recreation, especially as we break ground at Whitehall Road Regional Park. One of our staunchest supporters of CRPR activities, in general, and the development of Whitehall Road Regional Park, in particular, passed away in late November 2018 after a brief illness. Sue Mascolo was an Authority member for thirteen years, most of them served as Chair. Her stong leadership skills kept us moving forward and her sense of humor made it fun. It’s been a great year, full of rewards and challenges. The coming year will be very exciting as we continue our vision of creating a “Recreation Destination” in the Centre Region.

Kathy Matason

Kathy Matason, Chairperson Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority

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Welcome Letter from the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Director

elcome to the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority’s Annual Report for 2018. We hope you’ll take the time to read through the Authority’s accomplishments and learn more about what the Authority does within the Centre Region! One of the biggest themes of 2018 for not only us, but the residents too, was RAIN! Central Pennsylvania saw over 60” of rain which made it the wettest year on record. Many of you were impacted by the wet weather. The sports leagues that utilize the various park fields had to reduce schedules due to so many cancellations because of horrific field conditions. Our swimming pool attendance was also down in 2018 due to so many cloudy and rain days! Our tennis league participants also had to drop matches because the league schedule only allowed for so many rain make-ups. If you’re just learning about Centre Region Parks and Recreation, here are a few The Tower Garden from key points to remember. 1) the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority is the Active Adult Center; the non-profit governmental authority which provides policy oversight and is the fresh vegetables appointed from the member municipalities, and 2) the Centre Region Parks and are used in the Recreation Department which is the agency and its staff who are part of the Centre facility’s kitchen for Region Council of Governments (COG). COG and the Agency serve a broad range program meals. of both residents and non-residents; residents of the Centre Region are considered those who live within the five municipalities of College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton Townships and the Borough of State College. Our Annual Report serves to tell our story--the accomplishments, our program and facility data, and to provide you with a year in pictures from our various events and activities! Starting in January 2018, the Agency changed the methodology for the Agency Staff regarding data collection, and Agency Staff tracked data in a more standardized method. The Agency Staff and Director believe the methodology change will provide better data and will allow better correlations and extrapolations from the budget to related performance of facilities and programs and events. Thank you for your continued patronage and support; our program participants, our facility visitors, our partnered agencies, our elected officials, and of course our hard-working Agency Staff are all needed to make this department stronger and to continue the great work this Agency has done for 53 years! THANK YOU!

Pamela J. Salokangas

Pamela J. Salokangas, CPRP, CPSI Director

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Who Are We? Mission Statement Centre Region Parks and Recreation’s Mission Statement is “to provide Centre Region residents with a variety of opportunities which enrich lives and build community.” This is accomplished by providing opportunities through recreation, education, health and wellness, sustainability, and conservation. Vision Statement Centre Region Parks and Recreation is dedicated to serving residents and visitors of all ages and on behalf of the participating municipalities, as a “Recreation Destination,” providing a variety of opportunities that enrich lives through programs, facilities, leadership resources, and technical assistance.

The Summer Basketball League had a decent outdoor run despite the summer rains. Centred Basketball was a new partner in 2018, and here is one of our teams practicing skills drills.

Guiding Principles Centre Region Parks and Recreation follows these guiding principles in our daily work: • Provide residents and visitors with a year-round menu of age-appropriate, active and passive recreation opportunities. • Offer recreation opportunities at an affordable cost that reflect the partnerships involving the participating municipalities and community groups. • Provide services within the approved budget amounts to maximize the value of the prior municipal investments in parks and recreation services. • Function within the governmental structure of the Centre Region COG and its participating municipalities, the CRPR Authority and state / federal laws. • Provide staff with the appropriate skills, tools, training and certifications necessary to successfully initiate and complete assigned tasks. • Provide, maintain, and improve park and program infrastructure that provides opportunities for individual, family and group benefits. • Partner with community businesses, organizations, and government agencies to support and cultivate parks and recreation opportunities. • Provide a consistent evaluation process for park visitors, program participants and staff that provides for continuous improvement. Management and Organizational Structure The Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority operates as a result of an official, voluntary partnership among the Borough of State College and the Townships of College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton. This partnership functions via the Centre Region Council of Governments (COG) to coordinate multiple and shared municipal services. In addition, the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority oversees the programming, maintenance, and general Agency operations while managing finances for park facilities owned or leased by the Authority, the participating municipalities, and/or the COG.

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As noted at the beginning, the 2018 Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority members included the following appointed residents: James W. Dunn, Ph. D – State College Borough Chris Hurley – Patton Township (finished in January, 2018) Cindy Solic - Patton Township (replaced Mr. Hurley in February, 2018) Diane J. Ishler – Harris Township Denise Meyer – Ferguson Township Kathy Matason – College Township Shannon E. Messick – State College Area School District Centre Region Parks and Recreation full-time and some part-time staff members are employees of the Centre Region Council of Governments (COG), and the Agency is one of six agencies operated by COG to also include Emergency Management, Code, Refuse & Recycling, Planning, Regional Fire Protection, and Schlow Regional Library. In 2018, there were some staffing changes within the Agency. One of our Millbrook Marsh Nature Center (MMNC) employees moved into the Recreation Services Manager Dave Hartzell, Parks Maintenance Caretaker II, is seen position due to an opening for that position. This position manually lining a sports field. The Agency introduced a serves as the Agency’s dedicated marketing and brand lining robot in 2018 to reduce manhours manager. In late 2017, the Agency created a new Parks and to maximize paint supplies. Caretaker III/Mechanic position and that position really got to full-speed in 2018. The Parks Caretaker III/Mechanic position really allows the equipment maintenance/ mechanical work be handled by a dedicated Mechanic. Also in early 2018, a new part-time Staff Assistant position was added to the Active Adult Center (AAC) to assist the full-time staff in balancing customer service, patron needs, and general facility needs. Staff Members in 2018: Pam Salokangas, Director Amber Merrell, Recreation Services Manager Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor Jeff Hall, Sports Supervisor Jada Light, Office Manager Jodi John, Staff Assistant Emma Barber, PT Staff Assistant Melissa Kauffman, MMNC Supervisor Mandy Maguffey, MMNC Program Coordinator Karen Dabney, PT MMNC Staff Assistant Cindy Stahlman, AAC Supervior Lu Skidgel, AAC Staff Assistant Kathi Immordino, PT AAC Staff Assistant

Jim Carpenter, Parks Supervisor Ted Weaver, Assistant Parks Supervisor Brad Stamm, Parks Caretaker III/Mechanic Andrew Foor, Parks Caretaker II Dave Hartzell, Parks Caretaker II Clint Kauffman, Parks Caretaker II Tiffany Weaver, Parks Caretaker I Gary Sprankle, Parks Caretaker I David Barnett, Parks Maintenance Staff Assistant

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Agency Partners There is a lot that this Agency can do, but to do all that we do each year is nearly impossible without our Agency Partners! This list continues to grow and as projects or programs change, program partners change, but opportunities always arise, and we’re able to create new partnerships as well. Without these agencies, organizations, non-profits, and companies, we could not do what we do for our patrons! If you see some of these folks, please say thank you for their dedication to the community and for their time and expertise! Aging in America Appalachian Ski and Outdoors APArchitects Bald Eagle Archaeological Society Bald Eagle State Park Betha’s Musik Better World Windsurfing Bitty Ballet Boy Scouts’ Local Troops Bradley’s Cheesesteaks Bricks 4 Kidz C.A.R.E.S. of Central PA CC Peppers Canyon Pizza Central Pennsylvania Builders Association Central Pennsylvania Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts Central Pennsylvania Mixed Martial Arts Centre Bike Centre County Beekeepers Association Centre County Commissioners Centre County Conservation District Centre County Disc Golf Association Centre County United Way Centre Crest Centre County Office of Aging Centre Foundation / Centre Gives Centre Life Link Centre Moves Centre Region Community Tennis Association Centre Regional Planning Agency Centre Wildlife Care Centred Basketball Chick-Fil-A Clearwater Conservancy Discovery Space Eddie’s Bicycles and Hockey Equipment Elmcroft Envinity Faces by Leah Freeze Thaw Cycles Geisinger Health Plan Giant Girl Scouts’ Local Troops Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. Grane Home Health Happy Valley Bonsai Club Happy Valley Learn To Cook HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation (Emcompass) Healthy Kids Running Series Kader’s Kona Ice Koch’s Funeral Home

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Lila Yoga Lincoln Caverns, Inc. & Whisper Rocks Mt. Nittany United Methodist Church Matt Price Drumming Mount NitaNee Kombucha Mount Nittany Conservancy Mount Nittany Health Nittany Mall Nittany Mountain Biking Association Northland Bowl OMNI Home Health Our Park Partner Adopt-A-Park Groups Paper Bird Creative & Education, LLC Penn State Basketball Penn State Center for Healthy Aging Penn State Cooperative Extension Penn State Department of Health Policy and Administration Penn State Dept. of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Penn State Healthy Bodies Project Penns Valley Conservation District Pennsylvania Department of Convervation and Natural Resources Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Pennsylvania Game Commission Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society Recreational Arts, Inc. Schlow Library Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited Stahl Sheaffer Engineering, Inc. Starbucks-North Atherton Store State College Area Municipal Band State College Downtown Improvement District State College Lions Club State College Orthodontics State College Pickleballers State College Rotary Clubs Subway-Northland Center Sun Directed Sustainable Communities Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt Tallyrand Park Committee Texas Roadhouse The Arboretum at Penn State The Bicycle Shop The Makery The State Theatre The YMCA of Centre County Tussey Mountain UEC Theatres USTA Mid-Atlantic Region Webster’s Book Store & Cafe Weis Markets Wilson Home Farms Wiscoy

Who We Serve The Agency serves five member municipalities (State College Borough and the Townships of College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton) and the estimated population for 2018 was 92,470 [based on 2017 American Community Estimate, U.S. Census Bureau], and breaks down as follows: Municipality

Total Population

2020 Forecasted Population (CRPA*)

College Township

10,134

10,687

544.8 people/sq. mile 18.6 sq. miles 207 acres

1.94 acres/person

Ferguson Township

18,837

19,515

394.9 people/sq. mile 47.7 sq. miles 189 acres

0.97 acres/person

Harris Township

5,446

5,677

174.5 people/sq. mile 31.2 sq. miles 68 acres

1.20 acres/person

Patton Township

15,829

17,205

646.1 people/sq. mile 24.5 sq. miles 172 acres

1.00 acres/person

42,791*

9,179.1 people/sq. mile

.27 acres/person

Borough of State College 42,224**

Population Density

Total Land Area

4.6 sq. miles

Total Acres of Parkland

115 acres

Park Acres Per Person

*Centre Regional Planning Agency **For reporting purposes, the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Agency does not subtract the student population from the Borough of State Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population figures because students are customers of the Agency through program participation and facility rentals.

In 2018-2019, Patton Township will be opening the first phase (4 acres) of the 42-acre Grays Woods Park. In 2018-2019, Ferguson Township will be opening Songbird Sanctuary (9 acres) to the public. It should be noted that Ferguson Township has preserved an additional 80 acres as a watershed preserve; this land is not considered park land and is not included in the park land total noted in the above tables. Regarding the acreage above and the work that is completed within the parks via the cooperative agreement through the Centre Region Council of Governments (COG) for regional parks and recreation services, here is a bit more detailregarding the acres that the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Agency maintains: Type

State College Borough

College Township

Ferguson Township

Harris Township

Patton Township

Totals

CRPR Maintained Park Land

115 acres

129.9 acres

178 acres

68.4 acres

164.9 acres

656.2 acres

Municipal Park Land/ Open Space (owned/ easement)

0 acres

81.1 acres

80 acres*

0 acres

111.8 acres**

272.9 acres

CRPR Authority Owned/Leased

7.3 acres

131.5 acres

103 acres***

21 acres

4.4 acres

267.2 acres

Totals

122.3 acres

342.5 acres

361 acres****

89.4 acres

281.1 acres****

1,196.3 acres

*Former municipal authority land preserved for watershed protection; not considered park land. **Patton Woods Natural Recreation Area is considered passive park land (62.7 acres). *** Whitehall Road Regional Park will not come online until 2020-2021 (100 acres). ****Songbird Sanctuary (9 acres) and Silvi Baseball Complex (2-3 acres), both in Ferguson Township, and the Phase I acreage for Grays Woods Park (4 acres, Patton Township) are not yet in these totals.

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Agency and Authority Historical Highlights The Centre Region Parks and Recreation Agency has a long history, built entirely upon regional cooperation and community support. Over the years, changes and improvements were made to provide affordable and effective public recreation programs and parks to the entire region. The Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority has been incorporated for 53 years, and below are some highlights to include the history of parks and recreation prior to the Authority’s creation. 1928 A five-member SC Borough Recreation Board was established by State College Borough Council. 1946 The Borough recreation program was expanded with support from State College Area School District. 1958 Wm. L. Welch Community Pool was built and then operated by a community group (the State College Recreation Association). This facility would be transferred to the Recreation Authority in 1970 and served the community until it was demolished in 2010 to enable the construction of the new Welch Pool complex.

A view of the original William L. Welch pool and bath house.

1965-66 The State College Borough Recreation Board was reorganized and renamed the State College Area Recreation Board consisting of seven members representing State College Borough, State College Area School District, and the Townships of College, Halfmoon, Patton, Harris and Ferguson. Agency oversight and funding was transferred solely to the municipalities. Mr. Robert Ayer was hired as the first municipal Parks and Recreation Director (the prior Directors were school district employees). 1970 The State College Area Parks and Recreation Board was placed under the auspices of the Centre Region Council of Governments (COG). The Articles of Incorporation to establish the Centre Regional Recreation Authority (CRRA) were approved. Park Forest Community Pool was opened. This facility would serve the community until it was demolished in 2009 to enable the construction of the new Park Forest Pool complex. 1986 The COG Offices, CRPR Offices, and the Centre Region Senior Center move into the newly-constructed offices at Fraser Plaza. The Articles of Agreement were signed between the Centre Region Senior Citizens Advisory Committee (CRSCAC) and the CRRA for the Authority to operate the Senior Center. 1996 CRPR and PSU approved a lease agreement from PSU for “Farm 12” and the Millbrook Marsh wetlands for the Authority to develop the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center in 1997. Agency Director Robert Ayer retired in December with 30 years of service; Ronald J. Woodhead was appointed as the next Agency Director (March 1997). 2002 The COG Ad Hoc Regional Parks Committee was formed to work cooperatively with the Authority to oversee regional capital projects (two pools, nature center buildings, and the three regional parks).

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Agency and Authority Historical Highlights 2003 All COG offices, including the CRPR offices, were moved from Fraser Plaza to the newly-constructed COG Building in Ferguson Twp. The Senior Center then expanded into some of the space formerly occupied by the COG Offices. 2005 The Oak Hall Parklands were purchased. Procedures were established for planning, development, and operation of the new Regional Parks. 2007 The name of the COG Ad Hoc Regional Parks Committee was changed to the COG Parks Capital Committee, along with their assigned responsibilities. 2013 The functions for the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Board were officially assigned to the Centre Regional Recreation Authority (CRRA) by the COG General Forum; the Authority was renamed from the CRRA to the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority (CRPRA). The main Parks Maintenance Facility for the agency relocated from the State College Borough Public Works Facility to an interim (leased) site in College Twp. 2015 The Centre Region Active Adult Center moved into an interim space in the Nittany Mall while its permanent space was being renovated. 2016 The Authority celebrated 50 years of incorporation and work in the community to provide well-rounded programs, improved facilities, and fun and safe community special events. Ronald J. Woodhead retire from the Agency, and Pamela J. Salokangas was hired to succeed him, only the third Director to serve in the Agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. 2017 The Centre Region Active Adult Center moved into its permanent location at the Nittany Mall in January and celebrated its grand opening using its official new name. In December, after a very long period of litigation, Toll Brothers closed on its land agreement A view of the small copse of woods on the northeastern corner of the 100-acre Whitehall Road Regional Park (WRRP). with Penn State which allowed the public-private partnership negotiated with CRPRA for infrastructure work at the Whitehall Road Regional Park (WRRP) to re-activate. In the next two years, Toll Brothers will provide water, sewer, electric, and natural gas along with an entrance road, traffic light, and any PennDOT-required off-site improvements to the park. 2018 After a very long delay, the Authority and Agency were able to move forward on the Phase I development of the Whitehall Road Regional Park to include finalizing the design, updating the loan documents, searching for supplemental funding, and preparing to re-start the Land Development Plan work. A full Agency History is available on the Agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at the following link: https://bit.ly/2NYDrKL

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Regional Facility Highlights Park Forest Community Pool originally opened in 1970 and experienced partial renovations in 1991. The entire facility was renovated and re-opened on June 13, 2009 with a 220,000 gallon main pool with six laplanes, two waterslides, and a diving board. This $3.2 million pool facility also includes a toddler pool with a spray pad and water spray features. William L. Welch Community Pool originally opened in 1959 and was renovated in 1982; a water slide was added in 1987. Welch Pool was closed during 2010 for construction, and in May 2011 the renewed complex, with a budget of $5.4 million, re-opened and quickly become a very popular regional destination. The Spring Creek Education Building at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center opened in Spring 2011 with construction funding provided through a combination of private and public donations. The project budget was $1.1 million. The building enabled year-round programs at the nature center. Currently, fundraising is on-going for the Phase II development of the Spring Creek Education Building as well as the addition of a Welcome Pavilion. Hess Softball Complex (21 acres) acquisition was proposed by Harris Twp. in 2009; a Safety Evaluation and the acquisition was completed in 2010. Renovations proceeded with a Spring 2011 re-opening. Master Site Plans were approved in 2011 (to reorient the layout for four Youth or three All-Age Fields). Oak Hall Regional Park (68 acres) was acquired in 2005; the Master Plan was approved in 2009 and revised in 2011. Phase 1 construction began in 2013 and completed in fall 2014. The park opened in Spring 2015. Whitehall Road Regional Park (100 acres) was acquired in 2008 (75-acres) and 2011 (25-acres); the Master Plan was approved in 2010 and revised in 2013 to accommodate the future Centralized Parks Maintenance These renderings show the addition to the Spring Creek Facility, which has since been removed from the plan, Education Building and the Welcome Pavilion. and to designate two rectangular fields for synthetic turf and lights. In 2019, the Master Plan was revised to include an All-Season Pavilion addition to the restroom/ concession stand, and to allow for one rectangular field and the indoor/outdoor tennis facility to be swapped along with the addition of a three-bay garage-style maintenance storage building.

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Facilities and Program Data: Active Adult Center The Centre Region Active Adult Center is currently located at the Nittany Mall in Suite #990. In 2016, the Center was located in an interim space in the Nittany Mall while the permanent space was renovated. The Center moved to its permanent space on January 13 and on January 27, 2017, the Grand Opening was held and the Center has been thriving in its space ever since. On average, there are over 500 individual participants throughout the year. The Centre Region Active Adult Center receives funding from all of the municipalities that participate with the CRPR Authority, and it also receives funding from the Centre County Office of Aging. The Centre Region Active Adult Center is open to adults, ages 55 and over, and offers a wide variety of classes, activities, screenings, day trips, and events that suit almost any lifestyle. Whether you prefer a morning of line dancing followed by some arts and crafts or enjoying a meal at the Center, or a game of Bridge and a cup of coffee, or assistance with IRS tax forms, the Center is sure to have something for you to enjoy! Our goal at the Centre Region Active Adult Center is to promote healthy aging through our many recreational activities and health forums, as well as life-long learning through a variety of classes and social interaction. The Center provides services Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM. 2018 Accomplishments In April 2018, a part-time Staff Assistant was hired to complete the team at the Center. This additional staff member has improved our customer service and has handled tasks that were previously left for when there was free time. Kathi Immordino has been a great addition to the Center and she has really helped to balance the work load for Cindy and Lu, so that they can focus on daily activities, programs, and trips! Last year, some of the Center’s participants started a Bell Choir and traveled for three off-site outings to various facilities around the Centre Region. This is their way of giving back to those who are facility bound and who love music. Triad is a program of “seniors and police coming together.” Through this partnership with Triad, the group began meeting monthly at the Active Adult Center. They have brought numerous programs to the center to include the following: 1) an educational program on senior phone, mail and internet scams; 2) an educational program on the opioid epidemic which affects people of all ages; 3) awareness and education on fall prevention; and 4) a fire safety program. A big event was held in 2018! A June wedding took place at the Active Adult Center for two of the participants who met and got engaged at the Center, and planned their wedding to be held there as well. Approximately 120 people attended and it was a beautiful day.

Sonya and Doug prepare to take their wedding vows!

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2018 Accomplishments continued The first-ever Senior Prom was held at the Active Adult Center. The Second Winds band played wonderful music from many generations while the students from the Penn State Recreation, Parks and Tourism Management 356 Class partnered with participants for some great dancing. The students also planned numerous activities during the prom. The Centre Region Active Adult Center was awarded a $65,000 grant through the PA Department of Aging, which was used in 2018 and will be used in 2019 to secure additional infrastructure improvements as part of the Phase II renovations. A permanent entrance sign, a The 2018 Senior Prom was a huge hit! glass enclosure with automated doors, an electrified movie screen and new projector, restroom call buttons, and some electrical upgrades will be added using these grant funds. Here is some data from the Active Adult Center’s tracking software that tabulates participation in various programs per the Centre County Office of Aging’s guidelines. Not only does the Active Adult Center track participation, but all of the Centre County senior centers track participation rates and report them, so that the County can then provide that data to the state.

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A Zum b particip a Gold an really e t said “I nj class. I oyed the wo for it to uld love continu e.”

Another part of the data collection at the Active Adult Center is residency of participants. The Centre Region municipalities and Centre County Office of Aging, both of which financially support the Active Adult Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operating budget, request participation information. The demographics fluctuate as residencies can change within the data collection year. Overall though, the Center has seen good participation numbers, and the Agency is very pleased with the participation levels. Municipality

# of Participants in 2017

# of Participants in 2018

% of Change

Centre Region State College Borough

-17.05%

College Township

117

101

-13.68%

Ferguson Township

-7.07%

Harris Township

+14.89%

Patton Township

-2.44%

Other Muncipalities Non-Designated Location

+1,000.00%

Bellefonte Borough

+27.59%

Benner Township

0.00%

Boggs Township

-33.33%

Burnside Township

+300.00%

Centre Hall Borough

+11.11%

Center Township

-200.00%

Covington Township

+100.00%

Curtain Township

+100.00%

Frankin Township

0.00%

Gregg Township

-25.00%

Haines Township

-50.00%

Halfmoon Township

0.00%

Howard Borough

-100.00%

Howard Township

+50.00%

Huston Township

-200.00%

Huntingdon Borough

+100.00%

Kistler Borough

-100.00%

Logan Township

0.00%

Miles Township

+50.00%

Milesburg Borough

+33.33%

Millheim Borough

-66.66%

Penn Township

-100.00%

Port Matilda Borough

+33.33%

Potter Township

-25.00%

Snow Shoe Borough

-100.00%

Snow Shoe Township

0.00%

Spring Township

+25.00%

Taylor Township

-200.00%

Union Township

+16.66%

Walker Township

+16.66%

Warriorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mark Township

0.00%

536

522

Totals

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Facilities and Program Data: Millbrook Marsh Millbrook Marsh Nature Center (62 acres) is operated by the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority, which is a non-profit organization that provides program and policy oversight to the Agency staff. The Authority leases the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center from The Pennsylvania State University; the 50-acre wetland parcel also has a conservation easement placed on it by the Clearwater Conservancy. The facility is open from dawn to dusk for drop-in use; the Center’s office has regular office hours and staff are typically on-site running programs in the Marsh, on the boardwalk, in the 1850s restored bank barn, or in the Spring Creek Education Building. A beautiful view from the bridge.

In addition to oversight from the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority, the Marsh also has an Advisory Committee that helps to guide programming or on-site volunteer projects, assists with fundraising needs, and provides input to the overall management of the facility. The 2018 Advisory Committee members were: Donnan Stoicovy, Chairperson Nancy Tamminga Alan Sam, Vice Chairperson Dr. Rob Brooks Kathy D. Matason Mary Sorensen Steve Maruszewski Steve Sywensky Deb Nardone Mark Henry Doug Wentzel Dr. Rick Marboe Jennifer Arndt Niki Tourscher Cristin Mitchell 2018 Accomplishments

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center had another wonderful year, continuing to increase its programming and user base with expanded events, new instructors adding new programs, and new partnerships. It’s been a continuous goal to keep the operating budget strong, and to do that, the facility needs to generate revenue through program fees and facility rentals. The addition of the wedding rental program in 2017 really helped to increase the number of rentals hosted at the nature center. In 2018, the facility rentals increased by 19 rentals, thereby increasing the facility’s rental revenue by approximately $8,600. The nature center is able to provide spaces for celebratory events and community gatherings at affordable prices.

HABITAT RESTORATION IN PROGRESS

Yellow Warbler—Setophaga petechia

Monarch Butterfly— Danaus plexippus

We are controlling non-native, invasive plant species at Millbrook Marsh and replacing them with native trees and

shrubs. The structure of native vegetation provides better habitat for birds, mammals, amphibians, and other wildlife. The increase in native plant diversity will also increase the native insect diversity. Insects are important to the diet of young birds and the aquatic food chain of Thompson Run, Slab Cabin Run, and Spring Creek. This habitat restoration is a multi-year, three step approach: 1.Remove non-native, invasive vegetation by mechanical means 2.Control regrowth with targeted herbicides at appropriate application rates 3.Re-establish native trees and shrubs that provide ecological structure for reproduction, foraging, and enhancement of species diversity while suppressing re-infiltration of invasive, non-native plants

“All animals get their energy directly from plants, or by eating plants, or by eating something that has already eaten a plant. The group of animals most responsible for passing energy from plants to animals that can’t eat plants is insects. This is what makes insects such a vital component of healthy ecosystem. So many animals depend on insects for food (e.g. spiders, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, 96% of all terrestrial birds) that removing insects from an ecosystem spells it doom.”

A large three-year habitat restoration project started in 2018 across 4.5 acres. This project is through an in-kind partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Penn State Wildland Weed Management Department and Clearwater Conservancy.

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2018 Accomplishments continued As noted earlier on page 11, the nature center staff and advisory committee members continue to fundraise for the Phase II expansion of the Spring Creek Education Building (SCEB). In 2018, an additional $300,000 was raised through one-time donations. The Agency will continue this fundraising process for this project until we have reached the full $2.2 million project for the Phase II expansion of the SCEB and the addition of the Welcome Pavilion. “Puddle Jumpers,” the nature center’s nature play program for preschool age children, continues to grow. There was full enrollment throughout 2018, and as the year ended, the nature center staff were able to double the number of “Puddle Jumper” sessions offered, and spaces filled very quickly when registration opened in December 2018. The Millbrook Marsh Nature Center partnered with 14 Centre County organizations for the second year through the Centred Outdoors program. 1,150 total participants attended 20 outdoor hikes and one kickoff event. Partner organizations included Centre Moves, Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, The Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, The Arboretum at Penn State, PA Fish and Boat Commission, The YMCA of Centre County, Mount Nittany Conservancy, Penns Valley Conservation District, Mount Nittany Health, Tallyrand Park Committee, Sustainable Communities, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Puddle Jumper participants explore a downed tree at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center.

In 2018, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center offered many new programs. With the growing interest in Kombucha and the nature center’s partnership with Mount NitaNee Kombucha, staff offered a “101” class to teach participants how to brew it for themselves and why it is so beneficial. Following the theme of natural health, the center offered “Making and Using Plant Tinctures” which over-filled with 26 visitors. Lastly, our “Nature Classroom for Homeschoolers” was a huge hit. The nature center has offered this program for three years with a different theme each year. 2018’s theme was Avian Academy and 28 kids and 11 adults attended! A program that the nature center has been offering for several years has been continuing strong. Millbrook Marsh partnered once again Despite the rain, participants had fun making with the Council of Government’s (COG) Refuse and Recycling their take-home fairy gardens! Program and Centre County Refuse and Recyling Authority to offer two “Backyard Composting Workshops” for the community. In 2018, 52 participants attended classes at the nature center, taking home their very own household composter.

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It is very important for the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center to understand its visitors and to track attendance at free community events, programs, rentals, and partnered activities. Below is a summary of the 2018 visitors to the center’s programs and events, totaling 11,768; this does not account for any drop-in use at the facility. Jan

Feb

March

April

Winter/Spring Programs Sessions Visitors Programs Sessions Visitors Programs Sessions

Meetings Public Programs Puddle Jumpers Offsite Programs (no equations) Group Programs Birthdays Rentals Walk Only Special Events Offsite Events Camps Monthly Totals Visit Totals Seasonal Total Sessions Program Totals Seasonal

14 2 1 3 0 2 4 1 0 1 0 28

73 24 8 8 4 64 0 63 94 20 0 40 0 0 12 386

13 2 1 4 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 24

May

62 27 8 20 13 60 0 28 39 0 0 0 0 0 21 236

19 1 1 3 0 0 3 0 0 1 0

Visitors

91 16 14 47 0 0 21 0 0 700 0 889

8 12

28 2625 73 121

June

Programs Sessions

10 7 1 4 9 0 6 0 2 2 0 41

July

Visitors

56 64 14 57 273 0 82 0 468 100 0 1114

8 12

0 20

August

A Mak i Tinctu ng and Using res pro Plant gram said, “I really e participant progra m and njoyed the would learn e love ven that a lo more! It was to asked a t of question great s were nd that taste so we were able me tin to ourselv ctures es!”

Summer Programs Sessions Visitors Programs Sessions Visitors Programs Sessions

12 6 1 4 42 1 13 0 0 0 0 79

27 95 8 14 19 57 1575 20 419 0 0 0 0 0 27 2207

18 8 0 0 10 3 9 0 1 0 3 52

Sept.

41 11 80 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 451 5 89 1 613 11 0 0 48 3 0 0 15 30 9 15 1352 46 5125 102 224

Oct.

0 0

43 43

Visitors

15 58 0 0 111 29 265 0 151 0 84 713

Programs Sessions Visitors

25 4 1 0 1 0 10 0 0 3 3 47

Nov.

52 5 2 12 0 0 4 0 600 0 0 120 15 60 17 853

Dec.

Fall Programs Sessions Visitors Programs Sessions Visitors Programs Sessions Visitors Programs Sessions

Page 17

18 10 1 5 2 1 15 1 0 0 0 53

64 29 8 12 16 110 38 30 1291 25 0 0 0 0 24 1599

16 6 1 4 13 1 15 7 0 0 0 63

77 79 9 12 15 90 577 26 630 143 0 0 0 0 24 1634 21 4018 86 156

7 0 1 4 3 2 4 0 0 0 0

65 0 7 12 13 59 131 60 83 0 0 0 0 0 20 410

9 0 1 4 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 19

6 12

for much dults. o s u a nk yo up to “Tha his class I had so and ing t om open 2 friends ything fr to r y e M alk, Ev fun! , to the w d h c u an re m iry lo nting as Visitors the fa actual pla garden, w p kee he the g of t t. Please n n i n 52 desig and swee ind whe m 0 n e so fu ldsters in sses in th m 12 a o l c t fro us uling articipan s! 101 d e h sc clas id a p 0 e,” sa y Garden r u t u 0 f air the F 210

0 0 0 0 0 18 375

Facilities and Program Data: Parks Maintenance Centre Region Parks and Recreation’s Maintenance Department has been leasing space in the Industrial Park along East College Avenue, near the Nittany Mall, for several years. The leased space provides for an indoor shop, outdoor work area, storage, parking for trucks, trailers, and equipment, as well as for loads of mulch, compost, infield mix, fertilizer, and other field amendments. The Parks Maintenance staff maintain 56 municipallyand regionally-owned park sites and regional facilities ranging from small pocket parks to neighborhood and community parks, to the large, regionally-owned or leased facilities such as Oak Hall Regional Park, Hess Softball Complex, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, the Active Adult Center, William L. Welch Community Pool, and the Park Forest Community Pool. No additional parks were transferred to Parks Maintenance in 2018, although several parks will come online in the next few years. Seasonal Maintenance Staff assist with tournament preparations at Oak Hall Regional Park.

The work completed at all sites varies by the season, by the type of activities scheduled at each location, and by each facility’s operational schedule. The end of the winter and beginning of the spring seasons are the busiest season for parks maintenance as staff prepare equipment and vehicles for seasonal use as well as open the parks, conduct inspections and maintenance, turn on water and open restroom facilities, prepare sports fields for use including mowing, lining, painting, installing bases, hanging nets and wind screens, and more. The maintenance staff assist with the pool openings in the spring as well. Once the summer season gets underway, parks maintenance tasks become a bit more routine with mowing, sports field maintenance, playground inspections and maintenance, pool facility needs, as well as the general maintenance of all facilities, equipment, and vehicles. Besides the nine full-time maintenance staff in 2018, the Agency also hired seasonal staff, some of whom were floaters, and some of whom were stationed at various parks: • Tudek Park, Ferguson Township: staffed by one seasonal caretaker at 40 hours per week. Duties performed include general park maintenance, turf maintenance, care of the dog park and community gardens. Athletic field lining is done • Spring Creek and Fogleman Fields, College Township: staffed by two seasonal manually and using a lining caretakers. Duties performed include general park maintenance and turf and robot called the “Turf Tank.” athletic field maintenance at both locations. • Circleville Park, Patton Township: staffed by one seasonal caretaker. Duties include general park maintenance at all Patton Township parks. Circleville duties include general park maintenance and turf maintenance. • Regional Parks, College and Harris Townships: two seasonal caretakers perform general park maintenance, turf maintenance, and ballfield maintenance at both locations.

Page 18

2018 Accomplishments It was another very challenging year with over 60” of rain affecting all outdoor work for the Parks Maintenance Crew. Fields opened late in the spring, had closures during the busy summer months, and the fall season was very rough as well. Throughout all of the weather issues, the Parks Maintenance staff persevered and had fields up and running once they were in a decent enough condition for play. They continued to mow and line as they typically would, but had to wait until the best time in order to not damage the grass fields. While some of the sports leagues’ seasons were shortened, most of them were able to at least play 50% of the schedule. A new addition to the team this year was a multi-sportfield line painting robot; this equipment piece was tested in the early part of the spring and summer so that the department could determine if it would be worth purchasing in the future. The model is new to the US but claims to save manhours for field linings; it runs on rechargable batteries and uses GPS satellite tracking to line the fields. This robot may be back in 2019 for additional testing time. While these were not the Authority’s capital projects, it’s important to mention some of the park improvements that were made in 2018: • Spring Creek Park’s restroom building was replaced and re-opened in July 2018. • Tusseyview Park’s playground had a renovation and the playground opened in October/November 2018. • A portion of Bernel Road Park’s playground surfacing was replaced in mid-summer, re-opening in July 2018. • Haymarket Park received a new playground piece that opened mid-year. The Parks Maintenance division received approval during the 2019 budget process to add two new full-time Parks Caretaker I positions to supplement the staff the Agency currently has, and the department was also approved to increase hourly salaries for seasonal positions in hopes of being more competitive in the employment market. The Agency staff completed a salary study to determine how it fared against some other seasonal employers in the Centre Region. Parks Maintenance Data: The Parks Maintenance staff members do track hours worked in the various municipalities and by the type of work for the regular season of April-November. In the data that follows, please note that the hours worked do not include travel time to and from or between parks. Additionally, these notes should help define how some Parks Maintenance tasks are defined and handled at various parks. Definitions: • Athletic Field Maintenance: specialized lower cut mowing two times per week in the main season, turf enhancements (fertilizing, aerating, overseeding, pest control, etc.), softball and baseball field lining, grooming and ballfield maintenance. All sports fields are mowed, groomed, and painted. • Equipment Maintenance: any repairs, improvements, or scheduled maintenance to all parks vehicles, motorized equipment, and hand tools, etc. • General Parks Maintenance: routine trash, recycling, custodial, pavilion maintenance, repairs, and playground maintenance. • Playground Equipment: inspections, repairs, safety surface replacement, and care. • Turf Maintenance: general turf mowing, weed eating, leaf removal, and care.

Page 19

As noted in the definitions above, much of the playground maintenance including daily inspections and safety checks are included in the General Park Maintenance hours. Starting in 2019, the Agency will break-out all Playground Maintenance into one category. Please see the 2018 tracked labor hours below.

2018 Labor Hours

Equip. Maint.

Municipal Parks Owned By:

General Park Maint.

Turf Maint.

April

Althletic Field Maintenance

Borough of State College College Township Ferguson Township Harris Township Patton Township

82 53 93 31 45

Park Forest Community Pool William L. Welch Community Pool Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Hess Softball Complex Oak Hall Regional Park TOTAL LABOR HOURS

6 6 21 337

17 43 248

Borough of State College College Township Ferguson Township Harris Township Patton Township

153 118 182 44 86

218 212 285 117 121

31 60 85 12 66

Park Forest Community Pool William L. Welch Community Pool Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Hess Softball Complex Oak Hall Regional Park TOTAL LABOR HOURS

18 23 6 27 91 748

16 17 48 38 8 1080

93 271 618

Borough of State College College Township Ferguson Township Harris Township Patton Township

199 130 208 52 144

246 171 341 98 190

35 61 62 3 41

Park Forest Community Pool William L. Welch Community Pool Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Hess Softball Complex Oak Hall Regional Park TOTAL LABOR HOURS

23 17 24 51 122 970

14 22 60 27

Regional Facilities

137

Municipal Parks Owned By:

Regional Facilities

135

Municipal Parks Owned By:

Regional Facilities

274

May

June

6 28 16

1169

Playground Maintenance

21 73 41 11 42

90 170 462

6 2 101 5

114

Page 20

General Park Maint.

Turf Maint.

Althletic Field Maintenance

Playground Maintenance

Borough of State College College Township Ferguson Township Harris Township Patton Township

202 147 181 140 116

174 144 249 109 182

30 46 79 12 52

Park Forest Community Pool William L. Welch Community Pool Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Hess Softball Complex Oak Hall Regional Park TOTAL LABOR HOURS

65 30 15 30 88 1014

17 16 48 26 10 975

77 241 537

Borough of State College College Township Ferguson Township Harris Township Patton Township

182 106 171 66 114

171 118 259 68 161

28 73 75 1 47

Park Forest Community Pool William L. Welch Community Pool Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Hess Softball Complex Oak Hall Regional Park TOTAL LABOR HOURS

33 34 40 36 67 849

22 21 48 24 14 906

83 305 612

Borough of State College College Township Ferguson Township Harris Township Patton Township

144 152 161 39 123

150 127 315 81 153

Park Forest Community Pool William L. Welch Community Pool Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Hess Softball Complex Oak Hall Regional Park TOTAL LABOR HOURS

8 8 30 0 21 686

16 11 27 24 25 929

2018 Labor Hours

Equip. Maint.

Municipal Parks Owned By:

Regional Facilities

189

Municipal Parks Owned By:

Regional Facilities

173

Municipal Parks Owned By:

Regional Facilities

Page 21

219

July

August

September

15 43 81

6 8 2

30 77 282

2018 Labor Hours

Equip. Maint.

General Park Maint.

Turf Maint.

Althletic Field Maintenance

Playground Maintenance

32 1

October

Municipal Parks Owned By:

Borough of State College College Township Ferguson Township Harris Township Patton Township

140 203 188 36 105

245 183 355 90 183

33 38 84 4 36

Park Forest Community Pool William L. Welch Community Pool Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Hess Softball Complex Oak Hall Regional Park TOTAL LABOR HOURS

3 3 12 25 36 751

8 6 14 18 29 1131

40 50 285

Borough of State College College Township Ferguson Township Harris Township Patton Township

68 55 78 29 53

123 61 85 11 33

Park Forest Community Pool William L. Welch Community Pool Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Hess Softball Complex Oak Hall Regional Park TOTAL LABOR HOURS

216

4 3 290

313

2018 TOTAL LABOR HOURS

1623

5645

6553

3047

274

Regional Facilities

280

Municipal Parks Owned By:

Regional Facilities

November

Page 22

Facilities and Program Data: Sports Leagues and Tournaments

Each year, the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Agency provides learn-to-play sports classes, non-traditional sports clinics, youth sports leagues, and adult sports leagues; the Agency also hosts softball and baseball tournaments and sports-themed special events like Pitch, Hit & Run, an adult Cornhole Tournament, and more. The majority of Centre Region Parks and Recreation’s sports leagues and tournaments are played at the Regional Parks, but also utilize the municipally-owned community parks when additional fields are needed. Many of our youth sports groups rent field space at the various parks around the Centre Region, and softball and baseball tournaments that attract teams from out of the region play at the Regional Parks. 2018 Accomplishments The Centre Region Parks and Recreation Agency is very proud of its partnership and cooperation with many youth and adult leagues in the community. It can always be a challenge to find enough safe (and dry!) fields for the community’s needs, but the Agency’s Sports Supervisor manages to secure fields for everyone. There are approximately 22 youth and adult groups that request fields each year. The Centre Region Parks and Recreation Agency had a very busy 2018 hosting 15 tournaments at the Regional Parks and scheduling for five softball leagues as well as working with the USSSA Softball, ASA Softball, Keystone Select Softball, Thin Blue Line Softball, and Future Stars Baseball to operate tournaments at Hess Softball Complex and Oak Hall Regional Park. Despite the 60” of rain in 2018 and the wettest year on record for Pennsylvania, only one tournament was canceled, and for three other tournaments, at least one day was played. Centre Region Parks and Recreation also operates the A Growing The Game boy’s division team enjoys a sunny concession stand at the Oak Hall Regional Park. The and dry practice at a local park. concession stand was in its second year in 2018, and had another successful year growing, not only the product line, but also increasing revenue by $3,000 over 2017. Despite the very rainy year, the concession stand still performed well providing food service for all tournaments, Sunday leagues, and some of Centre Region Parks and Recreation’s special events. As noted above, one of the learn-to-play sports programs the Agency operates is Youth Flag Football. In only the second year of hosting this league, participation grew from 98 boys and girls in 2017 to 160 boys and girls in 2018. New coaches helped to create new teams, and everyone really enjoyed the league.

Page 23

Besides the five softball leagues and the Youth Flag Football League noted above, the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Agency also operated nine other leagues throughout 2018. There was growth in softball, flag football, and Growing The Game Basketball which brought a new partner to the Agency--Centred Basketball! The Adult Volleyball League remained consistent with its teams. Below is data that chronicles participation in the Agency’s sports programs and leagues as well as a summary on the 2018 tournament attendance. Despite 60” of rain in 2018, several tournaments were held at the Regional Parks. Tournament teams traveled to the Centre Region from New York, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and of course, all over Pennsylvania.

1st Annual Cornhole Tournament at Oak Hall Regional Park.

Sports 2018 Winter/Spring Participants Sessions

Program Title

Municipality

Soccer Women's Volleyball Cornhole Tournament Volleyball League Women's Softball Coed Softball Men's Softball Men's Softball 35+ Men's Softball 45+ Adult Tennis Lessons Youth Tennis Lessons Adult Flag Football Tennis League Growing the Game Basketball Pickleball League Youth Flag Football Fast Feed Clinics Pitch, Hit & Run (Local) Pitch, Hit & Run (Sectional) Disc Golf Clinics

College Ferguson Harris, College Ferguson, Borough Harris College, Borough, Patton Harris, College Harris, College Harris, College College, Borough College College all municipalities Patton Patton College Cancelled Harris, College Harris, College Patton

1 4

4 27

Summer Sessions

Participants Fall Sessions Participants

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 4

210 80 360 440 100 120 14 14

1 1 1

26 124 9

4 1

54 40

190

cancelled cancelled 132

145

1 9

13 574

2 1 10

10 132

1545

Total Participants 109 88 36 400 80 360 440 100 120 18 41 132 26 124 9 145 0 10 120 23 2381

parent Football g la F th ve the A You solutely lo lder b a e W “ , wrote all for o flag footb d it for option of ye have enjo . Chris kids and on as well n a s r e g n u o our y hes ru d his coac anized, Milito an rg o rogram: n and fantastic p fu , growth n o s u c fo It was manship. ts r o p s d chool goo see high s d be to c ti s ta fan rees an rve as refe players se in youth sports in d so involve ity. They were all un m m o c ! Thank our le models ilito ro t n e ll e c ex ris M k you Ch you, than and effort e ued tim n ti n o c r fo gram!” in this pro

Page 24

Page 25

Facilities and Program Data: Programs and Special Events Centre Region Parks and Recreation’s Programs and Special Events division hosts a myriad of programming for all ages, abilities, and interests. Programs range from learning a new craft to learning to ride a bike to exploring new fitness routines to spending time with family members. Our Special Events carry such long traditions in the Centre Region like our Annual Easter Egg Hunt where 10,000 eggs are filled with candy and the Annual Halloween Parade with over 1,000 participants and spectators! 2018 was another busy year with the evaluation of current programming, updating and freshening KIDVenture Campers wait in line for a ride at programs, and tweaking our special events so that we Knoebel’s Amusement Park! can continually improve and meet the needs of our community. The 60” of rain received this year did make holding outdoor special events a challenge--our newest special event--an outdoor movie on the new large screen had to be canceled due to wind and rain. Our Friday Night Slides had to be canceled due to no snow and very, very wet conditions. 2018 Accomplishments New in 2018 was the Camp Coordinator position; this staff member worked alongside the Recreation Supervisor to oversee the KIDVenture Summer Camp program. The program needed a new direction, and the Agency wanted to hire someone with a fresh perspective. Natalie Wortman was hired in the Spring and made a real difference with the day-to-day operations and handling staff needs, participant issues, and the overall FUN factor was increased! Hiring a Camp Coordinator also freed up some time which allowed the Recreation Supervisor to focus on other programs and events in the summer. While the Agency was able to add the Camp Coordinator for H.I.I.T Mobile Fit was launched in 2018! summer camps, the Agency struggled to fill summer camp staff positions. The Agency did everything possible to advertise and recruit for staff; when Agency staff realized that they were not going to fill all the slots, the Recreation Supervisor realigned the summer camp enrollment maximums and adjusted the ratio of instructors to campers to ensure that the Agency would still be within an accepted threshold. The summer camp staff shortage was not the only shortage the Agency faced; however, the program ran successfully with a full complement of camp activities, trips, arts and crafts projects, and more! In the end, this Agency-wide staff shortage drove Agency staff to conduct a salary scale survey for seasonal staff positions within the region which made it into the proposed budget to raise hourly rates in 2019.

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2018 Accomplishments continued While secure, year-round indoor space continues to be an issue, the Agency explored new health and fitness programs throughout the year. One new program was a partnership between the Agency and a professional fitness trainer who built a mobile gym that includes portable equipment, weights, and other bootcamp-style pieces. New yoga classes for youth and adults were created, some being held outdoors and indoors!

“Elle M instruc organ is a wo t n explain or. She is ver derful y good ing all moves at in the /p y stars fo oga class. 4 ositions out rE next se lle. I plan to of 4 join th ssion,” Yoga p says a Hath e a articip ant.

While this program won’t physically be launched until 2019, the Agency worked throughout the entire year to create the Rec On The Go program--a program solely designed to take our programs mobile to the parks with all the necessary supplies and equipment. After being introduced to a mobile recreation This used box truck will serve as the mobile headquaraters for Rec On The Go! program idea two years ago at the National Recreation and Park Association Annual Congress, Agency staff took the steps necessary to create a similar program in the Centre Region. The year-long process included creating a program proposal, drafting the program budget, gaining the support of the elected officials so that they would support the project, and once approved in November, Agency staff immediately began searching for the main component--a box truck. This program idea really became an Agency effort. Below are tables with programs and special events attendance summaries as well as the number of sessions for each program or event held in 2018. There are some striking differences between 2017 and 2018, most of which related to weather and program cancellations. • Despite an increase of 18 new programs and classes from 2017 to 2018, attendance dropped due to either low enrollment and the program being canceled or weather causing outdoor programming to also be canceled. Still, over 1,000 people participated in programming through Arts Fest Kids Day kept the Agency staffers very busy the year. helping to make crafts! • There was a great positive change for the Agency’s special events from 2017 to 2018. The Agency offered 16 more special events in 2018 with a 24.09% increase in attendance. That is a great jump in participation despite several of our stand-alone special events being cancelled due to weather. • The Agency made a concentrated effort in 2018 to ensure that programming was held in each of the participating municipalities. The program listings below note where each program or event was held in 2018.

Page 27

Program Title Adult Learn to Bike Basics of Bike Touring Bicycle Tire Change Bike Commuting 101 Bike Maintenance 101 Biking in the Centre Region Bitty Ballet Bitty Ballet Camp Cardio Dance Girl's Rhythmic Gymnastics Hatha Yoga Intro to Bike Packing Kidventure Challengers KIDVenture Explorers Kidventure Mini Leaders In Training L'il Striders Muck‐n‐Mess Musical Theater Camp PiYo Live! Piyo Outdoors Step Cardio Teen Treks Turbo Flow Turbo Kick Winter Bike Riding 101 Write Your Life! Youth Get Out and Ride Yoga in the Parks Zumba Learn To Play Pickleball Smart Start Basketball Core De Force Power 45 Bootcamp on Wheels Soulful Salutations Yoga Playful Poses Yoga Smart Cycling

Municipality Ferguson Borough Borough Ferguson Borough Ferguson, Borough College College College Patton College Borough Patton Patton College Patton Borough Ferguson College College College Ferguson Patton College College Borough Borough Patton College College Patton College College College Borough Ferguson Ferguson Borough

Programs and Events 2018 Summer Winter/Spring Sessions Participants Sessions

Participants

Cancelled 1 2 1 3 2 2

10 9

1 2

6 19

18 7 20

1 1 2 1

7 10 15 6

0 16 28 0 30 14 32 4 27 15 15 6 278 245 67 13 18 16 48 16 0 45 1 11 9 3 0 12 7 35 26 7 4 7 0 0 0 0 1055

Cancelled

1 2

7 11

18 1 7 9 3

1 2 1 Cancelled 1

Total Participants

Fall Sessions Participants

195

1 2

7 12

2 1

20 5

1 1

6 5

1 Cancelled

1 2 1 1 1 1 Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled 18

3 16 11 7 4 7

1 1 1 1 1

278 245 67 13 5

1 1 Cancelled 1 Cancelled

48 10 9

735

Summer

Participants

500

125

Special Events Special Event So Long Summer Shindig Fit Thon‐Winter Build Your own Gingerbread House Mother Daughter Tea Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt Annual Easter Egg Hunt Kidical Mass Touch a Truck Expo Arts Fest Kids Day Kids on Wheels Bike Decorating Cardboard Regatta Stargazers Fit Thon‐Summer Annual Halloween Parade Youth Triathlon Paws a Pool Ooza Dinner and A Movie Winter Carnival Friday Night Lights SCAMB November Concert SCAMB February Concert SCAMB March Concert SCAMB May Concert

Municipality Ferguson Harris Ferguson Ferguson College Borough Patton College Borough Borough Borough Borough Patton, Harris, College, Ferguson College Borough Borough Patton Harris/College Harris College College College Patton College

Winter/Spring

Participants

1 1 1

Cancelled 65 500

Fall

1 1 1 8

1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1

10 323 350 65 12 39 240 10

1 1

51 114

Participants

500

Cancelled

1 1

Cancelled 330

840

200

285 235 315 1622

Total Participants 500 22 10 65 500 10 323 350 65 12 39 240 10 500 51 114 200

1714

330 285 235 315 4176

Page 28

Facilities and Program Data: Aquatics The mission of the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Aquatics program is to provide safe, clean, and costeffective public swimming facilities that allow for wholesome recreation opportunities to Centre Region residents. The Agency strives to provide all ages with the opportunity to obtain life-saving skills and to gain better physical health through aquatics. With two renovated community swimming pools that contain features such as spray pads, a separate lap pool, diving boards, slides, and a climbing wall, Centre Region Parks and Recreation offers the community a variety of exciting outdoor swimming opportunities! In 2016, a climbing wall was added to Welch Pool and in 2017, the Agency purchased the Wibit, a floating obstacle course which rotated between both community pools. Both of these additions help to keep the community pools fresh and fun for the visitor! 2018 Accomplishments A brand-new family-style event was added to the Aquatics line-up in 2018: Welch Pool lifeguards participate in the Welch Cardboard Regatta. This event was a huge success for the an in-service training and practice participants and the Agency! It brought families together to design, build, and multiple types of rescue skills. race a cardboard boat! So much fun was had that this event will be back in 2019. Aquatics also added a new lesson program called Big Fish/Little Fish. This program was designed to bring families together to learn life-long swimming skills. Similar to Start Smart programs, the parents and children are taught together in the pool, so that parents can continue to teach and reinforce skills when not in the lesson program. Once again, the theme of 2018 was rain, Rain, RAIN! With over 60â&#x20AC;? of rain in 2018, the pools saw their fair share of drizzly and cloudy dates or complete rainouts. Despite that fact, the operating budget did complete the 2018 season in the black with higher-than-projected revenue. Municipal contributions (aka tax dollars) for the operating budget remained at $0 in 2018. A difficulty for Aquatics, similar across all departments in the The Wibit Floating Obstacle Course remains quite Agency, was the ability to fill all positions to include front desk popular at both pools! staff and lifeguards. At times during the 2018 swimming season, the operating schedules fluctuated due to staffing levels. For example, on some days, one of the pools closed early so that the other pool could remain open for the full schedule and staff shifted to one facility to ensure that the pool was fully staffed. However, on a positive note, there were very few staffing issues which is very good since many staff are working their first job! Many staff plan to return in 2019.

Page 29

Two of our youngest lifeguards were awarded some national recognition by the American Red Cross. Chloe Bevilacqua and Zachary Hagerup were given the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award, one of the highest Red Cross Awards, for their actions during a rescue at the Welch Pool on June 16. Mr. Aaron Workman and Ms. Hope Rearton, American Red Cross representatives, presented the national award on October 29, 2018. This award is 107 years old and endorsed by 16 presidents. The two teenage lifeguards performed CPR on an unconscious child to save the life of this five year old. Below is some summary information for the 2018 programs and special events held at the community pools, as well as a few details about our season pool passes and gate attendance for the season.

Pictured (L to R): Aaron Workman, Chloe Bevilacqua, Zachary Hagerup, and Hope Rearton.

Aquatics 2018 Program Title

Municipality Winter/Spring

Preschool Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Springboard Diving Parent Toddler Big Fish Little Fish Welch One‐On‐One Lessons Park Forest One‐On‐One Lessons FLO Fitness Classes Water Walkers Park Forest Swim Team Welch Swim Team Lifeguarding Course SCUBA

Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton Borough, Patton

OVERALL TOTALS

Events

Municipality

Paws‐A‐Pool‐Ooza Dog Swim Welch Cardboard Regatta Splash, Pedal and Dash Youth Triathalon OVERALL TOTALS

Patton Borough Borough

3 3 3 3 3 3 7

Participants

Summer

Participants

Fall

Participants

16 24 23 23 12 5 15

8 8 8 8 8 8 3 cancelled 1 6 6 2 1 1 1

58 62 59 37 18 11 6

2 2 2 2 2 2 4

8 10 9 8 7 2

7 35 20 16 6 175 197

129

77 classes

715

17 classes

Winter/Spring

Participants

Summer

Participants

Fall

Participants

39 51 90

114

1 1 2

114

0 events

first as our “This w with swim ter ence experi d my daugh n a t s nu e. lesson ery mi v e d e the enjoy s to all Thank lved. It was rs invo ost teache ving an alm io a h r t t at grea :studen ould r e h c a ts c 1:1 te ticipan ning r a p e lear s o th ve and n,” be acti t each lesso 1 u ho vel throug ent from Le par says a im Lessons. Sw

Total Participants 82 96 91 68 37 18 21 0 7 35 20 16 6 175 197 11 8 0 0 0 888

Total Participants By Event 114 39 51 204

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Agency Administration, Marketing, and Community Presence The Agency’s Administration Office remained very busy in 2018 as it handled the majority of all customer service programs to include selling season pool passes over the winter and spring, selling Amusement Park Discount Tickets, handling program registrations for customers, providing information through phone inquiries or to customer walk-ins, onboarding employees across the agency’s departments, handling the Tudek Community Gardens program, managing all pavilion rentals and all fundraising/special event park requests, creating all marketing pieces and securing advertising for the Agency’s programs and events, producing the Active Guide three times a year, and handling all accounts receivable and payable. 2018 Accomplishments In February 2018, the Agency launched the new Centre Region Parks and Recreation website. This was months of hard work writing new text, finding new photos, organizing information and menus, and training with the software. The Agency is very proud of the results and multiple staff now have access to the website to keep it as up-to-date as possible. Staff also continue to evaluate menus, posted information, and how we can provide information that the community desires. During the 2019 budget process, which took place in 2018, the Agency staff proposed a new program called Rec On The Go. We’re very excited to launch this program in 2019 after proposing the purchase of a new box truck, new equipment, and to plan the parks and events this program will visit. The Agency partnered with the Penn State Healthy Bodies Project to assist with the Free Summer Lunch Program at three parks. Five days a week, the free lunch program was available to local youth at three parks-Tudek Park, Orchard Park, and Blue Spring Park. Between 12:00-1:00 PM each day, no matter the weather, the free lunch program was available along with resource materials for families. Agency staff dropped in a few times to provide programming during the last 30 min. of the lunch hour, and this is an area the Agency will expand with this program in 2019 using the Rec On The Go program. Due to several struggles across the Agency regarding staffing and operational levels, the Agency staff proposed increasing seasonal salaries as part of the 2019 budget process. Prior to proposing those changes, our Summer Intern completed an informal salary survey of other seasonal positions in the State College area. The Agency used that information to redefine the seasonal surveys for our agency’s positions. Over the course of the next three years, Agency staff will continue to increase salaries so that the Agency remains competitive for new hires.

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Throughout 2018, the Steering Committee for the Centre Region Comprehensive Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Study worked very hard to define the study areas, write the Request for Proposal (RFP) which was used to invite consultants to the project, and review the submissions. 2018 NRPA AGENCY

In late fall, the Steering Committee chose Recreation Park Solutions and Yost Strodoski Mears as the team that would lead the project forward into 2019. The consultants began their work in November 2018 and redefined the schedule for the following year. The overall goal for this project is to collect information about the current state of parks and recreation in the Centre Region in order for the Agency to update its Strategic Plan and work toward meeting the community’s needs well into the future. The final report should be done in November 2019. It’s important to note that this project is partially funded through a matching grant through the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW PARK AND RECREATION AGENCY

PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS

Benchmarking In 2018, the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Agency uploaded its data into the National Recreation and Parks Association’s Park Metrics program so that it could benchmark its operation against other Pennsylvania agencies as well as agencies of similar size and scope across the United States. The graphic to the right shows overall data from averaging the information provided from agencies across the United States. This is a 2018 snapshot of some key findings. The following table, however, shows some of the benchmarking data from using the Centre Region Parks and Recreation’s data against similar agencies within the State of Pennsylvania and nationwide. Because the Agency is part of the Council of Governments (COG) and provides regionalized services, benchmarking must go outside the state’s borders for comparative data.

2018 NRPA AGENCY PERFORMANCE REVIEW

KEY FINDINGS

OPERATING

EXPENDITURE

28 PERCENT

PER CAPITA: $78.26/YEAR ACRES OF PARK LAND PER

1,000 RESIDENTS:

10.1

RESIDENTS

PER PARK:

FULL-TIME

EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES (FTES)

PER 10,000 RESIDENTS: 7.9

2114

AGENCIES OFFERING AFTER-SCHOOL CARE:

REVENUE-TO-OPERATING

EXPENDITURE:

55%

AGENCIES OFFERING

SUMMER

CAMPS: 84%

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Website The new website was launched in February, 2018. The total number of users and pageviews in 2018 decreased slightly from 2017, most likely due to the transition period between the old and new websites. Pageviews, pages per session, and average session length all increased significantly in 2018. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;bounce rateâ&#x20AC;?, which is the percentage of website visitors who left the website after viewing only a single page, decreased significantly. All of this suggests that visitors explored the website more thoroughly and were more likely to find what they were looking for than on the old website.

WEBSITE COMPARISON Total Users Total Sessions Total Pageviews Pages Per Session Average Session Length Bounce Rate

2017 62,989 108,921 236,997 2.18 1 min. 35 sec. 57.26%

2018 61,782 107,794 305,212 2.83 2 min. 9 sec. 40.57%

The ten most visited webpages in 2018 are very similar to previous years, suggesting that visitors are able to find the pages they have previously frequented.

10 MOST VIEWED WEB PAGES 1. Aquatics Home

6. Find Your Park

2. Aquatics Schedule & Rules

7. Programs

3. Aquatics Season Pass & Admission Fees

8. Special Events

4. Millbrook Marsh Nature Center

9. Employment

5. Sports Leagues

10. Active Adult Center

Branding Though the Branding Guide was not completed in 2018, staff started using the branded colors from the CRPR logo more in marketing materials. This creates a more unified, recognizable look and energy for agency materials.

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Facebook Our Facebook followers are predominantly women and middle aged. Page “Follows” grew by 873 during 2018 to end the year with 3,321 Follows. Page “Likes” grew by 818 to end the year with 3,278 Likes

Twitter The CRPR Twitter account gained 100 followers in 2018, ending the year at 901. Women make up 59% of CRPR followers while men make up 41% and 87% are homeowners.

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A Year In Pictures!