JOINT WORK SESSION - MEETING SUMMARY

• Centre Regional Recreation Authority
• COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee
• State College Area School District Board of Directors

Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 7:30 PM, COG Building Forum Room

            Mr. Ronald Woodhead, Director of Centre Region Parks & Recreation, opened the work session by welcoming the three groups represented: Centre Regional Recreation Authority (CRRA), COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee (Ad Hoc) and the State College Area School District Board of Directors (SCASD Directors). He asked those present to introduce themselves. The following persons were present:

Also in attendance: Municipal Managers; District staff; Todd Smith, ELS; Ronald Woodhead, CRPR Director; Todd Roth, CRRA Aquatics Supervisor; Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager. Refreshments were provided.

            Using a PowerPoint show, Mr. Woodhead reviewed the history of municipal/school cooperation for parks and recreation dating back to 1948 and the creation of the Centre Regional Recreation Authority in 1970. He gave an overview of the joint municipal projects in progress:

• Regional Parks: Oak Hall Parklands and the Whitehall Road Parklands;

• Millbrook Marsh Nature Center;

• Park Forest Pool Renewal; and

• Wm. L. Welch Pool Renewal.

            He thanked the SCASD for approving the Shared Parking Agreement for the Park Forest Pool and he reviewed the Park Forest Pool plans.

            He also thanked them for approving a long-term (25 yr.) land lease for the Welch Pool in 2007, making it possible to proceed with the grant applications for the Wm. L. Welch Pool Renewal. He explained that the Concepts and Projected Project Costs have been approved by COG General Forum, by the municipalities, and by the Centre Regional Recreation Authority. He reviewed the Concepts related to the shared parking and access which will form the basis for a Shared Parking Agreement. He presented the recommended Shared Access and Parking Plan as approved by the Authority - explaining the change in the access road to the South Building and the Welch Pool. The new access would combine the include access/parking for the Welch Pool and the access to the South Building into one and would provide new/additional parking on the school property. After the access and parking have been established, the Welch Pool Master Site Plan process can be finalized (with continued public input to determine the actual layout on the site). The CRPR staff are currently preparing a state grant application which is due on April 25. If the grant deadline is missed, it could result in the delay of one year in the construction of the Welch Pool (until August 2010).

            Mr. Woodhead stated that the Authority was asking the SCASD for four items:

            1) A letter from the Board to Governor Rendell to encourage release of the State Capital Budget funds ($1.25m) for Millbrook Marsh Nature Center,

            2) A letter expressing support of the Welch Pool Construction Grant (by April 25 to include with the grant application),

            3) Evaluation and approval of the recommended Shared Access and Parking Plan, with the School District responsible for funding that portion of the project,

            4) That the District continue to provide input into the Welch Pool Master Site Plan so the Master Site Plan can be finalized.

The floor was opened for questions and comments from those attending.

            Mr. Luck clarified that the funds the Authority is trying to get released for Millbrook Marsh Nature Center are already approved by the State and are included as a line item in the State Budget. Mr. Woodhead replied that it was approved in 2005.

            A question was asked about the additional parking and the specific location (on the map). Mr. Woodhead presented pictures and pointed out the wooded / grass area between the parking lot at the South Building and the current Welch Pool.

            A question was asked about the stormwater (since there has been a problem with stormwater in the past) since more of the area will be paved with the new parking area. Mr. Woodhead indicated that the engineers have included the necessary underground accommodations for stormwater to meet the Borough requirements.

            Mr. Klees indicated that in some part of the process the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee had a chance to view the concept options and they also felt that the presented access plan was the best.

            The question was asked if the pedestrian access improvements (between the school buildings) would qualify for any state grant funds. The engineers had not done a complete check yet on this issue.

            One attendee indicated that with small children, it would be better to not have to carry everything too far to the pool. It was then explained that it would be 300' from the current South Building parking lot to the pool. The proposed drop off area will also help with people who have a hard time walking or have a lot to carry

            Ms. Queeney asked if Mr. Woodhead wanted to give the school district any deadlines since it seems the projects are on a tight schedule. Mr. Woodhead said that by the end of April we need the letter in support of the construction grant and by Labor Day the approved parking agreement.

            Mr. Klees thanked everyone for taking the time to come out and allowing us to present the information outside of the regular school board meeting. He explained that when five municipalities come together and agree on a project it is special. So, he hoped the school board would take this into consideration when deciding on their support for the access and parking at the Welch Pool. We would really appreciate being able to meet the deadlines and not postpone the project for a year.

            A question was asked why the urgency? Is something wrong with the Welch Pool?

Mr. Woodhead responded that the pool is aging and it is a struggle to get the pool ready to open every year and costly. The look of the pool is also important as people don’t want to come to a facility that does not look attractive.

            How many parking spaces are required? Mr. Woodhead indicated that the new pool will require 160 spaces total (summer only). There are 47 spaces in the proposed lot, and the rest would be using the established school parking lots. A discussion followed about the loss of parking spaces on the current site and that the current South Building parking lot would be enough parking - but would be a long walk to the pool.

            Mr. Roth reminded everyone that it wouldn’t just be Welch Pool that would be losing parking but the school district would also be losing (37) parking spaces if this additional parking was not constructed.

            A request from school board members was made that a side by side of the current pool and the concept would make their discussions easier. Mr. Woodhead indicated that copies of both would be provided (that plan was subsequently delivered to Mr. Poprik).

            A question was asked what the large block to the right of the drop off was. It represents the area of the “entrance plaza” for Welch Pool.

            Mr. Klees told some of the history of the feasibility studies and the discussions that led to the Welch Pool remaining on the same site.

            A question was asked if there was a schedule of meetings so if anyone wanted to attend and follow the process of the projects. It was explained that there were two groups involved - Ad Hoc Regional Parks committee that meets most months and the Centre Regional Recreation Authority that meets once a month. Everyone is welcome to attend any of these.

            Mr. Woodhead thanked everyone for coming and the work session was adjourned at 8:30 PM.        

 Meeting Summary Prepared by: Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager