Phase II opens at Penns Prairie municipal park
CENTRE HALL — After nearly 20 years of planning and municipal collaboration, the communities of Centre Hall and Potter Township gathered to celebrate the recent grand opening of Phase II of Penns Prairie — a shared 165-acre municipal park.
The ceremony featured local leaders, including Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins, standing alongside members of the Tri-Municipal Park, Inc., celebrating community spirit as it does on municipal support.
“Navigating complex funding and regulations is a hurdle for any group of volunteers, but the creation of Penns Prairie proves what perseverance can achieve,” said TMP President Michael Troyan. “This park reflects a deep understanding of our community’s needs. We’ve come together to create a space for everyone, and I look forward to seeing this effort grow and be enjoyed for decades to come.”
According to Centre Hall Borough Councilman Matt Powell, the land, formerly owned by Penn State University, was purchased in 2007 by Centre Hall Borough, Potter Township and Gregg Township, but is administered by TMP, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
“The original three municipalities entered into a partnership to convert land into a municipal park,” Powell explained in a statement. However, none of the municipalities wished to invest a tremendous amount into the effort of converting farmland into a park.” Gregg Township withdrew from the partnership in 2022.
TMP, Inc. was founded in 2018 as a non-profit to administer the park.
The park’s growth has been funded by more than $500 million in grants from the state Dept. of Community and Economic Development, Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PennVest) and Centre County government. Those grants were submitted via Centre Hall Borough, Powell said.
Currently, the Centre County Conservation District is investing $42,500 in native plants and stormwater management for this year. Additionally, the project has received private donations from individuals and local organizations.
Staffed by volunteers, the park took a long time to gather sufficient momentum to secure funding from the state to establish some infrastructure and install the recreational features of the park.
Notable contributions were also noted by the hard work of the Friends of Penns Prairie and local partners. Landscaper Dillon Murphy and his crew received high marks on Saturday for preparing the grounds for the opening.
The park also partners with Penns Valley Youth Football and Cheer and Penns Valley Youth Soccer to maintain the athletic fields, ensuring the “prairie” remains a place of active community life.
The park currently features walking trails including ADA accessible paths, a StoryWalk path, a playground with natural play area, an 18-hole disc golf course, a bike skills trail, two football/soccer fields, two pavilions and a fire pit.
The newest additions highlight a shift toward diverse recreation. Visitors can now enjoy a sprawling, new traditional playground and a nature play area designed to encourage unstructured exploration with boulders and timbers.
For those seeking a reprieve from the weather, the newly completed all-season pavilion stands as a centerpiece for future reunions and community events.
Community members interested in utilizing these spaces can visit www.pennsprairie.com to learn more about the park’s history or to reserve the pavilion for private gatherings.
The Road Ahead
Despite the short pause for celebration, the board of TMP, Inc. remains focused on the work remaining. The master plan is an evolving document, with several high-priority projects still on the horizon.
Future plans include a large pollinator garden, pickleball and tennis courts, amphitheater, fitness stations, nature education stations, and bathrooms, Powell said. There is no utilities infrastructure at this time; however, fundraising is ongoing for connecting electricity, water and sewer.
Currently, the park utilizes temporary restroom facilities, but the board is actively seeking funding for permanent bathroom facilities and additional recreational options, including the highly-requested addition of pickleball courts.
From Eagle Scout projects to pollinator plots maintained by Girl Scouts, the park is a living testament to the idea that a community’s “Great Plains” are best tended by the hands of its own citizens.
