4
Jan 05 (updated 12 Jan 05)
TO: Mr.
James C. Steff, Exec. Director Centre Region COG
RE: 2004
Agency Highlights for Centre Region Parks & Recreation
Your
memo of December requested a brief list (4-6 items) of
our agency’s 2004 accomplishments for consideration
by Mr. Klees, submitted by 10 Jan 05. While each smile
we create is noteworthy, we’ve boiled them down to
the “Big 5" accomplishments for 2004:
1. Oak
Hall Parkland Grant:
The
$300,000 grant from DCNR to help COG purchase 68 acres
of parklands at Oak Hall represents (1) the Commonwealth’s
confidence in the history of municipal cooperation in
the Centre Region, (2) the value of municipal parks in
the Centre Region, and (3) the opportunity to consider
their vision of enhancing that cooperation - extending
the shared capitalization from the pools, nature center,
and senior center to a
regional park. During 2005 the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee
will continue to develop recommendations to that end,
for consideration by the COG General Forum. A related
highlight is that College Township stepped up to provide
the bulk of the local share of that grant - for the future
benefit of all residents in the region. It is noted that
with the addition of Oak Hall parkland in 2005, total
municipal parkland in the Centre Region will be 1,000
acres.
2. Centre
Region Senior Center Expansion & Renovation:
Working
in partnership with State College Borough, Centre County,
and 5 municipalities, the COG participated in a $140,000
project to expand and renovate the Centre Region Senior
Center. The ribbon-cutting for the expanded center was
held on June 30. The $45,000 share paid by COG utilized
Capital Reserve Funds, and the balance was paid by State
College Borough (as the building owner). The Senior Center
had used the original area since it was constructed 15
years ago and the expansion increased the center by 1/3
(expanding into the offices formerly occupied by Centre
Region Parks & Recreation). In conjunction with the
renewed 5-year lease with State College Borough, Centre
County Office of Aging agreed to continue their 25% rental
assistance for the entire space.
3. Millbrook
Marsh Nature Center:
The
regional nature center continued to compile a remarkable
history. The efforts of a year-round supervisor (authorized
in March 2003), combined with noteworthy community support,
greatly enhances that success. Millbrook Marsh Nature
Center program visits
increased by 22% over 2003 - to a record 5,573
program visits. Countless other visitors have enjoyed
the now-completed boardwalk network, thanks to the efforts
of the PA. Conservation Corps and the CRPR Parks Crew.
Municipal contributions in 2004 to the nature center
were $20,000; cash contributions to the nature center
during 2004 totaled $38,328. When the value of volunteers
are added, the nature center has generated $4 in outside
resources for each dollar from municipal contributions
(since it was created in 1997).
4. Customer
Services Provided:
During
2004, the agency provided program services
through 25,085 customer transactions (program registrations
and admissions) including 865 picnic pavilion reservations
for group uses. Most of those program registrations involved
multiple meetings or classes. In addition, effective park
maintenance services permitted thousands to simply
enjoy the many municipal parks in the region. Overall,
the agency remains as a high-visibility demonstration
of the benefits of municipal cooperation.
5. Parks & Recreation
Website Statistics:
The
statistics from the CRPR webserver help to measure, to
some extent, how much our residents want to know about
CRPR & municipal services. “What opportunities
do they provide for me / my family?” The up-to-date
information provided (over 360 web pages) permits residents
to explore recreation options on-line and then enjoy
their various parks in-person, or to review available
recreation programs. During
2004 the agency website hosted 1,097,806 hits from 109,668
visitors - an average of 301 visitors per day. During
2005 the agency intends to place all registration and
reservation functions on-line, so that customers will
be able to select and pay for a CRPR program or reservation
using the Internet.
Please
contact me if you have any questions.
cc: CRRA
/ CRPR Board
CRPR Supervisors & Support Staff
View
2004 Annual Program Report
