A comprehensive and expansive plan for improving recreation and open space in Whitehall Township was unveiled at an Oct. 30 public meeting in the Whitehall High School auditorium. The meeting was led by Whitehall Township Recreation Bureau Chief Brandon Hibbler and Stephanie Milewski, of Herbert, Rowland and Grubic, an executive planning and infrastructure solutions firm out of Harrisburg.

Milewski and her teammates provided a comprehensive overview of the project to date and the projected steps for the future. As noted in the project timeline, this is approximately a three-year planning project that began in November of 2023.

In February or March of 2025, the plan will go before the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners for approval.

About 30 citizens were present at the meeting. It was announced approximately 100 people attended the first meeting in April.

Another HRG representative described the major portion of the project focused on the Jefferson Street Park location in Fullerton. Several buildings on that site have been evaluated. It is recommended those buildings will need to be torn down and replaced. The rehabilitation of these existing buildings is reportedly too extensive and expensive to undertake.

The major portion of the projected plan is the construction of a new major facility on that site. The completed structure would likely include a gymnasium with two full courts, indoor walking track, group exercise with a weight and cardio-equipment area, meeting rooms, a small kitchen-concession area and locker rooms.

The large gymnasium would be made flexible to allow for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and more. Initial estimates for this major project range from $7-11 million.

HRB representatives reported several area projects have received state and federal funds that have become available, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

After outlining the project, those in attendance were given 30 minutes to talk with leaders and to indicate their preferences on six basic areas — programming, recreation maintenance, trails and connectivity, parks and recreation administration, open space and park and recreational facilities.

The results of the participants led to the following significant suggestions for each area. Programming feedback included promoting all athletic programming to be under the same umbrella program and establishing a unified online system to assist with township programming needs.

Residents reported they care about maintaining all municipal recreation facilities to the highest level of acceptable standards to ensure clean, safe and aesthetically pleasing facilities.

Trails and connectivity feedback included providing safe access to at least one park for passive or active recreation within a 10-minute walk of every township resident and expanding and enhancing the trail, greenway, cycle and pedestrian network to provide a safe place for recreation.

Regarding park and recreational administration, residents would like to see opportunities to expand township staff, where needed, and foster a volunteer effort to support park and recreation functions and programming.

Open space needs included developing a plan to enhance, grow and maintain the township’s tree canopy, open spaces and natural resources and balancing the community’s need for both managed recreational spaces and natural spaces.

Residents also noted they would like to see updates and enhancements to the township’s existing facilities while continuing to highlight Whitehall’s historical past.

The next critical step in this project will be the presentation of the finalized plan to the commissioners at either the February or March meeting.