1961

Stormstown playground established (Halfmoon Twp.)

Twenty-one playgrounds operated by Recreation Board.

Twenty-one baseball fields utilized.

State College area recreation survey and ten-year plan completed.

School budget - $24,200. Borough budget - $12,700.

1962

Westerly Parkway (High School) athletic fields completed.

Board operated 2 pools, 20 playgrounds, used School District and University facilities.

Corl Street paved, play area completed.

Thirty-seven different types of programs conducted.

School budget - $67,700. Borough budget - $16,000.

1963

New tot-lot developed in Park Forest Village and added to the playground system.

School budget - $40,917. Borough budget - $15,992.

1964

Applications made to acquire ninety-seven acres of neighborhood park lands in the Borough, Patton, Ferguson, and College Townships under Project 70.

A program was conducted at the Radio Park Elementary School site for the first time.

Sailing was offered to area high school students.

School budget - $45,012. Borough budget - $17,668.

1965

John D. Dittmar resigns after serving fifteen years as the Director of the Department.

A new 7-member Park and Recreation Board was organized late in 1965 under the School Code. One member was appointed by each of the following: Borough Council, Area School Board, and the Townships of Patton, Ferguson, Halfmoon, College, and Harris.

School budget - $13,500. Borough budget - $30,450. Township budget - $13,500 (capital only)

1966

Robert H. Ayer appointed new Director of Parks and Recreation for the State College area.

Acquisition of 26.4 acres for park purposes in the Borough of State College, and a State grant of $17,000 and a Federal grant of $17,000.

Acquisition of 45.4 acres for park purposes in College Township, a State grant of $19,500 and a Federal grant of $20,000. 

A State grant of $1,500 for park site in Halfmoon Township.

New, larger office quarters acquired in Borough Hall.

New playground manual developed.

Newsletter developed for Senior Citizens Club.

Creative Dramatics for youth introduced.

Junior High Youth Council established.

Summer band concerts introduced.

Peanut Carnival introduced into Department’s Special Events.

Introduction of mobile concert for Christmas Program.

A new bookkeeping system established with a yearly audit for the Department’s Township and General Funds.

A purchase order system established.

New picnic shelter for Holmes-Foster Park, Borough of State College.

School budget - $50,274. Borough budget - $23,165. Township budget - $6,367. (operating)

1967

Steven Longwell appointed Assistant Director for the Department.

A State grant of $36,250 and a Federal grant of $17,000 were received by the borough of State College for park acquisition.

A State grant of $19,500 and a Federal grant of $18,965 were received by College Township for park acquisition.

A State grant of $5,000 and a Federal grant of $4,500 was received by Patton Township for park acquisition.

Park development plans for the Shoemaker Tract in the Borough of State College and the Stearns Tract in College Township were completed.

The Purple Pocket, a teenagers’ drop-in center, opened its doors.

In cooperation with the P.A.R.C., programs in bowling, swimming, and puppetry were introduced to youngsters in special education classes.

A gymnastic class, creative dramatics class, and a social dance class were introduced into the list of department programs for area residents.

School budget - $50,275. Borough budget - $18,618. Township - $10,144 (operating).

1968

The (new) Centre Region Council of Governments agreed to take over Parks & Recreation financing, freeing the school district of all responsibility. However, the district would continue to make school facilities available for CRPR programs. The school district continued operating the Adult Education portion of the Parks & Recreation program.

A State grant of $122,224 was allocated for a second pool for the State College area - Park Forest Pool.

The first Luminaria Christmas Project was offered to area residents.

Acquisition of 10.7 acres and a State grant of $8,900 for park purposes was received by Ferguson Township.

Central Parklet was developed in the Borough and a State grant of $10,347.75 was received for its development.

Development started on High Point Park in the Borough.

Bid let for the construction of a second pool for the State College area: Park Forest Pool.

A State grant of $10,000 was allocated for the first phase of the development of Spring Creek Park in College Twp.

Ice skating rink established for the first time in the Westerly Parkway storm water basin in the Borough.

Employee’s Handbook established.

Sailing Club established.

Judo program started.

New playground equipment installed in Green Hollow Park.

Junior High Square Dance program introduced.

Merit award received from the PA. Assn. Of Boroughs for the Department’s 1967 Annual Report.

School budget - $50,282. Borough budget - $18,242.10. Township - $13,056.70.

1969

Construction started on the second regional pool - Park Forest.

Development completed on High Point Park in the Borough.

Development started on Spring Creek Park in College Township.

New summer park program established in Ferguson Township.

A grant of $4,500 received by Patton Township for park acquisition.

Cooperative guidelines established for the planning and development, acquisition, financing, and joint use of buildings and grounds.

 Show wagon constructed and placed into operation.

The William L. Welch Pool placed under the operation of the Department.

Evening park program introduced.

Development of a family ski club program.

New programs introduced were: neighborhood crafts, square dancing, ballet, ballroom dancing, adult touch football, open gym, social recreation for handicapped children, and youth club program for Junior High students.

Brochure for fall and winter activities, and an aquatics manual were developed.

School budget - $33,521.34. Borough budget - $26,510.64. Township - $24,276.02.

1970

The opening of the second regional outdoor pool - Park Forest.

The opening of a new park in the Borough - High Point Park.

The completion of master site plans for Tusseyview Park in the borough and for Suburban Park in Ferguson Twp.

The completion of the first phase of the development of Spring Creek Park in College Township.

Received a State grant of $122,224 for the development of the second regional pool - Park Forest.

Received a State grant of $26,938 for the development of the first phase of Spring Creek Park.

The establishment of the Centre Regional Recreation Authority for the purpose of financing recreation facilities.

The establishment of a summer nature program.

The establishment of a swim team at Welch Pool.

The establishment of a neighborhood craft program.

School budget - $16,760.68. Borough budget - $44,329.79. Township - $41,418.67.