After numerous delays, Whitehall Road Regional Park has finally opened. What to know

Following more than a year’s worth of delays in its construction process, one of Centre County’s most highly-anticipated parks has finally opened.

Whitehall Road Regional Park, located in Ferguson Township at 1954 Blue Course Drive in the Musser Gap area, had its long-awaited opening suddenly announced Friday afternoon in a press release issued jointly by Ferguson Township, the Centre Region Council of Governments and the Centre Region Parks & Recreation Authority. The roughly 100-acre park is now open for business, although officials said amenities such as trash cans won’t be available until Monday.

The park’s opening date — once an uncertain topic that had left residents living near the park feeling frustrated — was, at one point, planned for spring 2024. But it had been delayed due to some ongoing stormwater issues, among other smaller problems.

Now that those issues have been corrected, the park is open and ready to receive anyone and everyone interested in visiting, as of July 25.

“Whitehall Road Regional Park has been decades in the making — and today, we proudly open its gates as a vibrant hub for play, sport, relaxation and connection,” CRPR Director Kristy Owens stated in the release. “We extend our deepest thanks to the dedicated staff, patient community, generous donors and our municipal partners within the Centre Region Council of Governments. Your support and vision have brought this long-awaited dream to life, overlooking one of the most beautiful views in the Valley.”

CRCOG Director Ben Estell furthered Owens sentiment, stating that the park “represents the power of regional cooperation” and the “dedication of so many local leaders and community members.”

Unlike other parks in the county, Whitehall Road Regional Park offers a broad and unique variety of amenities that could likely suit anyone’s outdoor recreation needs.

Those amenities include two tournament-sized, multipurpose rectangular fields with LED sports lighting; two medium-sized grass fields for versatile sports and community leagues; a 15,000-square-foot, accessible “We Play Together” playground designed for inclusive play; the Mascolo Garden Reflection Area (a peaceful, landscaped nature area); a Schlow Library-collaborated story walk; pollinator gardens; and a series of walking trails with connections to the Musser Gap Greenway, eventually linking to Rothrock State Forest.

Also featured at the park are American Disability Act-compliant bathrooms, indoor storage and just under 300 parking spaces.

As development of the park continues, in late 2025 or 2026 a pavilion and concession area will be built through a combination of donations, grants, and municipal contributions. According to the release, the pavilion will provide a “much-needed, shady gathering space,” with the concession stand eventually being used to serve food and drink at future sporting and community events.

“This park delivers on our community’s vision for accessible, inclusive and high-quality recreational opportunities,” township manager Centrice Martin stated in the release. “Ferguson Township is proud to have been a foundational partner in bringing Whitehall Road Regional Park to fruition. We look forward to seeing it become a vibrant hub for families, athletes and nature lovers across the region.”

While construction issues halted the delay’s opening for the past year, residents have waited for this for longer than a decade. A master planning process began as early as 2009, and further design and land-development approvals occurred through 2019. The groundbreaking didn’t occur until April 2022.

According to the release, updates on Whitehall Road Regional Park’s upgrades and events will be shared at the park’s dedicated website. Those with questions can either reach out to the CRPR at crpr@crcog.net or (814) 231-3071, or to the township’s planning and zoning department at (814) 238-4651

The park is open every day of the week, from dawn until dusk.