With spring events canceled, Centre Region Parks and Recreation prepares for uncertain summer
With playgrounds and pavilions closed until further notice, Centre Region Parks and Recreation is preparing for financial repercussions of the coronavirus.
During a special meeting of the Centre Region Council of Government Executive Committee on Tuesday, officials discussed the impact of the coronavirus and potential loss of revenue resulting from the statewide stay-at-home order and shutdown of non-life sustaining businesses, specifically the impact on the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority which had been gearing up to host spring and summer events.
“We are laying the groundwork to be opening facilities, restarting programs, restarting operations with the minimal amount of ramp up that might be associated with that,” COG Executive Director Eric Norenberg said.
All spring programs and events, including the State College Area Municipal Band concerts, have been canceled or postponed, following Gov. Tom Wolf’s mandated closures. CRPR has implemented a temporary refund policy to protect those impacted by the cancellations through Aug. 31.
With residents and community groups canceling pavilion reservations, the CRPR estimates a $10,000-$15,000 loss in revenue. Those reservations and sports tournaments typically cover the cost of park maintenance expenses, CRPR Director Pamela Salokangas said.
Most members of the maintenance crew are working on rotating shifts to ensure parks are kept safe and clean.
“We have had some people cancel reservations this spring and move them to later this year, but the majority of our folks really would like their funds back,” Salokangas said.
The CRPR is offering a limited number of online activities that are free “for now,” she said. The authority is also looking to other recreation organizations for potential ideas.
“Some folks have canceled the entire summer, but we are the hopeful group, and we’re hanging on and trying to do this month by month,” she said. “We’re evaluating whether or not we can do some fee-based (activities) online.”
Over the next two weeks, Salokangas said the CRPR will evaluate the feasibility of opening pools for the summer. The re-plastering of the Park Forest Pool and minor repairs to the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center will occur when possible.
