Getting Regional About Recreation

Mercury Photo by John Strickler

A regional recreation coordinator can help maximize the

impact and expand large regional events like the Pottstown 

Volleyball Rumble.

The state has approved a grant to help fund a regional recreation coordinator for six of the eight municipalities which comprise the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning area.

Called a “circuit rider,” the position is designed to help coordinate regional recreation events and resources and to provide support for townships who may not have a large recreation department.
Among the activities and benefits envisioned for the new position are:

• Cheaper and more successful grant writing due to the nature of the intergovernmental cooperation involved;
• Help in coordinating the use of existing facilities and services and the prevention unnecessary duplication; 
• Developing trails and greenway connections, like linking the Schuylkill River Trail in Pottstown through Chester County to Phoenixville;
• Expanding promotion of existing parks and programs and coordination of the scheduling of major events among them;
• Identifying and facilitating sharing resources among youth sports groups;
• Coordinating public/private partnerships, contributions and volunteer efforts.

David Kraybill, the executive director of the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, brought the news to the regional planners during their Feb. 26 meeting.

He said the grant is for $67,500 per year for four years for the position.

A circuit rider can also help obtain grants to improve
and expand fields, like the refurbished field at Memorial Park
here in Pottstown.

The foundation is providing office space for whomever is hired and paying the health benefits.

The grant is a diminishing grant, with the participating townships shouldering a slowly increasing portion of the cost, with their annual contribution capped at $5,000.

The townships of East Coventry and New Hanover both opted out of participating.

Since 2010, the foundation has worked off the results of an area recreation study by Penn State which, among other things, reinforced the need for better regional recreation coordination, to get the most bang for the recreation buck, in pursuit of one of the foundation’s major goals — to promote an active lifestyle among area residents.

With the help of grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the foundation and regional planning committee have been working to outline a job description and set of responsibilities for the post.

Kraybill told the planners the state indicated that the level of cooperation among the participating townships in laying the groundwork and applying for the position “is the greatest level of cooperation they’ve seen in Pennsylvania.”

“The fact that you cooperate, stands out,” he said.

$200K Park Mini-Grant Program Now Open

Got plans? A new program offers mini grants of as much as $25,000 for park improvements.

A mini-grant program for park improvements in the eight municipalities that comprise the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee is now accepting applications.

Eight grants of up to $25,000 each will be awarded to towns which participate in the regional planning effort to help fund park improvements that promote recreation.

Funding for the grants comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and is being facilitated by the Pottstown

The municipalities of the Pottstown Metropolitan

Regional Planning Committee.

Area Health and Wellness Foundation.

At this point, the "Request-for-Proposals" phase, the regional planning committee and the foundation are inviting the region’s eight member municipalities to apply for funding for the planning or development of park improvements. 

Applicants may request up to $25,000 for the proposed project. Applications for the first round of funding will be accepted no later than Sept. 6.

The purpose of the Parks Mini-Grant Program is to support and implement the recommendations included in the 2012 Penn State Study, Planning and Design Strategies for Healthy Living, Parks, and Recreation in the Pottstown Region, which provides a road map for each municipality to improve its community and parks built environment. 

The PSU study recommendations are consistent with the PMRPC’s regional comprehensive plan, county greenway plans, and PA Outdoor Recreation Plan recommendations. 

Active play for toddlers was among the

Penn State study's recommendations.

The funding made available by this RFP will assist municipalities in undertaking park improvements that add amenities to existing park facilities and improving previously acquired park land by adding green features, pathways, signage, or other enhancements.

Preference for funding will be given to proposals that add park amenities recommended by the Penn State study, which can be found at: http://www.pottstownfoundation.org/pages/psu-report.htm.

The Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee (PMRPC) is comprised of two representatives from each of the Region’s eight participating municipalities, including Pottstown Borough, Douglass, New Hanover, West Pottsgrove, Upper Pottsgrove, and Lower Pottsgrove in Montgomery County and North Coventry and East Coventry Townships in Chester County. 

Picnic pavilions were also recommended in the Penn State study.

PMRPC members address multi-municipal issues and oversee implementation of the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Comprehensive Plan, currently one of the largest multi-municipal planning efforts taking place in Pennsylvania.

The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation’s mission is to enhance the health and wellness of area residents, providing education, funding and programs that motivate people to adopt healthy lifestyles. 

Visit www.pottstownfoundation.org for more information about the Foundation. 

Discover Pottstown area's online community at www.missionhealthyliving.org to learn and share great information on how to lead a healthier life. You can also follow Mission Healthy Living on Facebook and Twitter.

Funding eligibility is limited to member municipalities of the Pottstown Metropolitan Region, including Douglass, Lower Pottsgrove, New Hanover, Upper Pottsgrove, and West Pottsgrove Townships, and Pottstown Borough in Montgomery County, PA, and North Coventry and East Coventry Townships in Chester County

All project applications should demonstrate consistency with the goals of the Pottstown Regional Parks Mini-Grants partners – DCNR, PMRPC, and PAHWF.  

Projects are expected to achieve funded expectations within a 12-month contract term; however, early completion of projects is encouraged. Grants require a minimum 10 percent cash match to be demonstrated either at the time of application or within the duration of the 12 month contract.

Applications for the first round of funding will be accepted until Sept. 6. 

For more information about the Mini-Grant program and to access application materials, visit the Pottstown Metropolitan Region’s website at PMRPC.PottstownMetroRegion.com.