Metro Region 3.3 Metro Region
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Chapter 3.3 Metro Region 3.3 Metro Region 3.3 Metro Region parkland. Measured on an acres-per-capita basis, Muhlenberg ranks first with 22.7 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents This region contains the Reading urbanized area and is situated (while planned, not all acquired parkland in Muhlenberg is near the geographic center of Berks County. Besides the City of developed), followed by Wyomissing (20.4 acres/1,000 pop.) Reading, six townships (Ontelaunee, Bern, Muhlenberg, Lower and Shillington (12.5 acres/1,000 pop.). According to traditional Alsace, Spring, and Cumru) comprise the region along with nine NRPA parkland guidelines, only 6 of the 16 municipalities in the boroughs (Leesport, Laureldale, Sinking Spring, Wyomissing, region have a sufficient amount of developed recreation areas to West Reading, Mount Penn, Kenhorst, Shillington, and meet the needs of today’s residents, while Muhlenberg, Mohnton). The City of Reading serves as the county seat, and Shillington and Wyomissing have ample acreage to meet the the region is the population and cultural center of the county. needs of future population growth. When parkland is measured Even though the region encompasses only 68,085 acres, or approximately 12 % of the total county area, the 2004 population estimate indicates 188,018 persons or 48 % of the County’s population resides in this region. Due to minority migration to the County, particularly Latino, the metro region’s population and resultant economy is becoming increasingly diverse. The metro region has a rich history, and abundant natural, recreational and cultural resources. These resources are an integral component of the region’s landscape, and contribute to the quality of life of not only the region’s residents but for residents of the entire county. Recreation South Temple Neighborhood Park The metro region provides the largest amount, and most diversified recreation and leisure opportunities of all the regions as a percent of the total size of the municipality, the leader is in Berks County. Together the metro region municipalities Shillington, with nearly 10 % of its land protected as municipal provide more than 100 park and recreation areas totaling 1,500 parkland. Wyomissing, Laureldale, Reading, Muhlenberg and acres. This is an equivalent of 8 acres of local close-to-home West Reading all provide more than 5 % of its land area in park recreation space per 1,000 persons. While this amount of local and recreation land. public parkland space is adequate for the overall residents in the region, it is not distributed proportionately among the While the amount of parkland provided is important, the municipalities. Muhlenberg, Reading, Spring, and Wyomissing distribution of that acreage throughout suburban and urban account for over 80% of the local recreation land in the region. communities is critical. In those municipalities providing Meanwhile, six other of the region’s municipalities fall short of sufficient acreage, the distribution of parkland is generally good. even a basic amount of recreation land for their citizens, three However, there are a few neighborhoods that are underserved providing only 26 acres of combined parkland, and three with no by current facilities, leaving segments of the population too far 102 3.3 Metro Region 0- from a park to use it easily, conveniently, or frequently. The 4255- 4074- Lower Alsace Township 4464- metro municipalities should avoid “having met the acreage 26.59 25.46 27.9 standard” by providing a single large park. All municipalities 18.07- 3356- 3798- should examine the distribution of their parklands and provide a Mohnton Borough 3046- 20.97 23.74 more balanced and accessible system. Once a community is 19.04 0- developed, acquiring land for parks and recreation can be 2992- 3058- Mt. Penn Borough 2980- difficult and expensive. The redevelopment process is a tool 18.7 19.11 18.63 that can be used to increase parkland in municipalities which are 394.85- 17016- 18565- considered “built out”. For those municipalities with weak park Muhlenberg Township 17393- 106.35 116.03 systems that are still developing, setting aside adequate 108.71 0- parkland at appropriate locations through the land development 1128- 1009- Ontelaunee Township 1214- process is critical. 7.05 6.31 7.59 353.28- 82244- 84303- While providing parkland and recreational facilities is an Reading City 80727- 514.02 526.89 important municipal function, so is providing a diverse recreation 504.54 62.97- program. Most of the municipalities in this region provide a 4750- 4615- Shillington Borough 5020- playground program. Several provide a more complete program 29.69 28.84 31.38 including open gyms, concerts, festivals and holiday events, 3.23- 2627- 2720- sports leagues, trips, and various art, music and dance Sinking Spring Borough 3339- 16.42 17 programs. 20.87 230.86- 25572- 28158- Spring Township 24903- Existing and Recommended Recreation Acreages 159.82 175.99 155.64 19.08- 3801- 3641- Current Acre- Projected Projected West Reading Borough 4004- 23.76 22.76 Municipality Est. Pop.- 2010 Pop.- 2020 Pop.- 25.03 Rec. Min. Acre Rec. Min. Acre Rec. Min. Acre 226.86- 9.97- 11488- 10994- 7563- 8485- Wyomissing Borough 11142- Bern Township 7029- 71.8 68.71 47.27 53.03 69.64 43.93 12.81- 15058- 15975- 1432.96- Cumru Township 4476- 189983- 197352- 94.11 99.84 TOTALS 188018- 90.48 1187.38 1233.44 1175.11 9.47- 2423- 2177- Kenhort Borough 2649- 15.14 13.61 16.56 Abbreviations: Rec.= Recommended; Pop.= Population; Est.=Estimated; Min.-Minimum Sources:U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 Estimates 75.51- 3590- 3536- PaDEP 2006 State Water Plan Population Projections, 2010 and 2020 Laureldale Borough 3741- 22.44 22.1 Population Projections 23.38 National Recreation & Park Association, NRPA suggests that a park system, 16.01- 2120- 2244- at a minimum, be composed of a core system of parklands, with a total of 6.25 Leesport Borough 1891- to 10.5 acres of developed close-to-home space per 1,000 population. 13.25 14.02 11.82 Note: Municipalities in bold have sufficient acreage. 103 3.3 Metro Region The public park and recreation system in the metro region is Building and maintaining an adequate park system requires a supplemented by private and not-for-profit entities providing a strong financial commitment by a municipality. In 2005, the substantial variety of recreation and leisure opportunities. metro region municipalities spent nearly five million dollars on Local youth organizations play a large role in providing a variety their public park and recreation systems. However, 84% of that of sports programs throughout the region. It is essential that the amount was spent by Reading, Muhlenberg, Wyomissing and support and coordination between these organizations, Spring alone. From the period 2001 to 2005, Reading had the municipalities, and school districts continue in order to provide largest five-year average park and recreation budget. West efficient and well-rounded programs. Joint use agreements Reading had the highest per capita spending, followed by making school facilities available for community use after school Wyomissing, Muhlenberg, Shillington, and Leesport. Most hours should be executed. Churches and fire companies are municipalities are struggling to make ends meet, and parks and often overlooked as recreation providers, but many have picnic recreation are frequently lower priority then other municipal facilities, ball fields, social halls and recreation centers. Of the services. Municipalities that value their parks have established 21 outdoor swimming pools in the metro region, 16 are owned a dependable and dedicated source of funding, and are using by not-for-profit associations. Many of these pool associations alternative sources to supplement their public investment. are struggling financially and may need public support. A joint purchasing program should also be explored. The metro region Municipal recreation land is supplemented by 2,306 acres of has a concentration of cultural and entertainment attractions municipal natural lands, 940 acres of county parkland, 1,685 acres of state lands, 850 acres of federal parkland and school facilities associated with six public school districts. The core of the County’s park system, the Tulpehocken Creek Valley Park, is located in the metro region. This park contains the popular Union Canal Trail, which receives heavy usage and is outgrowing its capacity. 6th and Amity Playground such as museums, theatres, art galleries, a center for the arts, and the stadium and civic center, home to several professional sports teams. A variety of private recreation entities including six golf courses, eight fitness and sport centers, three roller- Stonecliff Action Park 104 3.3 Metro Region skating centers, and two bowling lanes among others are overriding recreation strategy of this region is to establish a located throughout the metro region. All contribute to the regional trail network that connects these natural resources to recreation system by filling a void the public sector cannot. each other and to where our people live, work and play. The spine of this network is the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT), and Local Recreational Strategy Municipalities should continue to through a system of tributary trails that link to the SRT we can provide the close-to-home active recreation facilities and connect our communities and provide access to our parks, programs, look for ways to connect those facilities and important historic and cultural districts, and economic destinations. When destinations, and link them to the regional network. Those completed, the network will be a linear park extending municipalities with adequate park systems should continue throughout the metro region and beyond. Much of this system reassessment of needs and modifications based on acreage and either exists or is in various stages of planning, acquisition or distribution. Those with weak or no system need to find a way to development.