Pleasing children, teenagers, adults, and seniors throughout the entire year in one location isn’t an easy feat. But White Township Recreation Complex in Indiana County has managed to do just that.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has supported the township’s efforts to provide an array of facilities in the park – a $110,000 Keystone Fund grant in 2000 partially funded the addition of tennis courts and a pavilion.
People of all ages share the five courts, whether they’re getting lessons, having pick-up games, or using them for organized practice.
“There’s [also] a pavilion with a game area and just outside it there’s a place to play bocce, shuffleboard, and horseshoes,” said Milton Lady, the facility’s manager. “It’s for activities that aren’t on a sports-minded competitive level. We got input from senior citizens in the community and found out that’s what we needed.”
The grant also helped fund concession facilities, site furniture, fencing, landscaping, and ADA access. Additionally, the 70-acre outdoor facility boasts four baseball fields, two soccer fields, two basketball courts, a playground, and a walking path.
Offerings like these bring large numbers of people to the area for everything from state playoff baseball games to Relay for Life fundraising events.
“I think the park also attracts future residents to the community. It’s a plus for the area because it brings people to the employment sector,” Lady said.
With so many facilities, it’s no surprise that community members take pride in the park. “A local garden club expressed interest in creating a handicapped [flower] bed. Now we have raised beds that people can access from wheelchairs. That project won a national award,” said Lady.
“We were approached by a group in town that wanted to build a playground area. They had a bunch of volunteers come out and pretty much built that playground area in one weekend,” said Larry Garner, township manager.
That’s just the outside recreation center. The adjacent indoor facility is offers an ice skating rink and turf surface, among other amenities.