After years of planning and multiple delays, the Centre Region’s long-awaited Whitehall Road Regional Park is now open to the public.
Centre Region Parks and Recreation on Friday officially opened the 50-acre first phase of the 100-acre park, located at 1954 Blue Course Drive Extension in Ferguson Township.
“Whitehall Road Regional Park represents the power of regional cooperation and the dedication of so many local leaders and community members,” Ben Estell, Centre Region Council of Governments executive director, said in a statement. “This park is not just a place to play—it’s a symbol of what we can achieve when we work together. We’re thrilled to welcome residents to enjoy the fields, trails, playgrounds, and natural beauty that this space offers.”
The park’s $6.4 million first phase includes a 15,000-square-foot accessible “We Play Together” all-abilities playground designed for inclusive play, the Mascolo Garden Reflection Area, two tournament-sized multipurpose rectangular fields with LED sports lighting and two medium-sized grass fields for a variety of sports and community leagues.
Also among the features are 2 miles of walking trails with connections to the Musser Gap Greenway, a Story Walk curated in partnership with Schlow Library, pollinator gardens, ADA-compliant restrooms and parking, as well as indoor storage and a CRPR maintenance facility.
A pavilion providing shaded gathering space and a concession area for food during tournaments and community events are expected to be constructed in 2025-26 with funds already secured from grants, donations and municipal contributions.
“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,” Kristy Owens, Centre Region parks and recreation director, said in a statement. “From premier athletic fields to an all-abilities playground, indoor restrooms, pollinator gardens, walking paths, and a story walk that sparks the imagination, this community treasure truly has something for everyone.
“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.”
Discussions for the park started as early as 2002, and the long road to its opening began in 2008 when Penn State and local governments created created a subdivision plan for a portion of a 565-acre property off of Whitehall Road acquired by the university from the Mellon Family Trust a decade earlier. By 2011 the university had sold 100 acres to Ferguson Township and the COG to develop the regional park. (The university also sold 59 acres to the State College Borough Water Authority and used a portion of the land to develop the Musser Gap Greenway.)
In 2012 the university sold 45 acres to Toll Brothers for what would become The Yards student housing development. As part of the sale, Toll Brothers was required to provide road access, traffic improvements and utility infrastructure for the park.
But litigation brought by a local environmental group further delayed the housing development, and by extension the park. After the lawsuit was dismissed and the sale completed in late 2017, The Yards was constructed in 2020.
Final funding and bids for phase one of the park were at last approved in December 2021.
That wasn’t the end of the saga, though.
Construction began in 2022, and much of phase one was initially expected to be completed by 2023. But the project was beset by prolonged construction, supply chain disruptions, seasonal delays, utility coordination issues and, most recently, problems with the documentation for stormwater management engineering.
Estell and Ferguson Township Manager Centrice Martin “worked diligently” to resolve the stormwater issues, convening their teams multiple times since the start of this year “to develop and implement a coordinated plan and timeline, recognizing the critical importance of stormwater compliance.”
The largest source of funding for the new facility was the regional parks loan authorized by the five COG members participating in Centre Region Parks and Rec — State College and College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton townships — with additional support from state and foundation grants and private and business donations.
“This park delivers on our community’s vision for accessible, inclusive and high-quality recreational opportunities,” Martin said in a statement. “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.”
Whitehall Road Regional Park is open from dawn until dusk, in accordance with policy for regional parks.
