Parks and Recreation (Culture- Recreation) Budget Narrative
FY 2021 Achievements, FY 2022 Goals, and Department Services
Angelo Pontelandolfo, Director
Mark Fallon, Director of Briar Bush Nature Center
ABOUT THE CULTURE-RECREATION (PARKS) DEPARTMENT
The Parks Department is responsible for maintaining 27 parks and over 375 acres of open space throughout Abington Township. Additionally, the Department provides various community recreational opportunities including campgrounds, picnic shelters, swimming pools, ball fields, playgrounds, summer camps and special events.
GOALS FOR FY 2022
Goal: Continue to update recreational facilities throughout the Township (Focus Areas - Safe, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Connected Community (SISCC), Innovative and High Performing Organization (IHPO) and Infrastructure)
- Objective 1: Continue to provide safe playground equipment to Township residents. (SISCC Guiding Principle 4, IHPO Guiding Principle 3, and Infrastructure Guiding Principle 1 and 2)
- Strategy #1: Update inspection and record system of playground equipment, inventory, warranties and provide pictures of each system/piece.
- Strategy #2: Enroll Parks Maintenance personnel in playground certification courses.
- Strategy #3: Update playgrounds and park facilities to be ADA compliant
Goal: Continue to increase recreational programming for underserved audiences, such as those with autism, spectrum disorders and persons with disabilities. (Focus Area - Safe, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Connected Community (SISCC))
- Objective: To provide programs that meet the recreational needs of those with disabilities (SISCC Guiding Principle 1 and 4)
- Strategy #1: Create relationships with organizations in the community that provide social education
- Strategy #2: Create relationships with school district special education departments to determine any cooperative plans
- Strategy #3: Meet with Township residents to gather information on program needs.
Goal: Update and maintain 2 swimming pool facilities (Focus Areas - Infrastructure, Innovative and High Performing Organization (IHPO) and Fiscal Sustainability)
- Objective 1: To provide up-to-date swimming facilities that will allow the Township to remain competitive in memberships with other surrounding pool facilities. (Infrastructure Guiding Principle 1 and 3, IHPO Guiding Principle 1, 3, and 5, Fiscal Sustainability Guiding Principle 2, 4, and 5)
- Strategy #1: Create a priority plan of short and long term range planning.
- Strategy #2: Enroll Parks Maintenance personnel in swimming pool certification courses.
- Strategy #3: Attend swimming pool workshops.
- Strategy #4: Work with township personnel (Finance, Parks Maintenance, Public Works, Waste Water, etc.) to determine how costs can be offset by in-house assistance.
FY 2021 ACHIEVEMENTS
- Ardsley Wildlife Sanctuary
- Removed invasive to improve trail system
- Alverthorpe Manor
- Major replacement of sewer system
- Alverthorpe Park
- Replaced Miniature Golf building
- Improved camp ground site
- Removed numerous trees damaged by storms
- Removed many “trees of Heaven” and sprayed saplings to control Spotted Lantern Fly population
- Incorporated new methods to control algae at lake
- Painted wading pool
- Crestmont Park
- Refurbished basketball courts
- Upgraded playground equipment
- Removed unsafe trees
- Refurbished picnic tables
- Crestmont Pool
- Painted 3 pools
- Updated ADA chair lift
- Upgraded restroom and pool lights
- Penbryn Park
- Improved landscaping
- Relined tennis courts for pickle ball
- Installed Gaga court
- Removed unsafe trees
- Penbryn Pool
- Updated security cameras
- Installed new roof
- Updated ADA chair lift
- Painted 3 pools
- Replaced sports lighting at Conway, Penbryn and Roslyn Parks
- Increased staff certifications (Park and Recreation Professional, Playground and Pesticide)
PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES BY FUNCTION
RENTAL FACILITIES
The Parks Department provides various rental facilities to township residents. These facilities provide residents outdoor options when looking to hold a function or special event. These areas also provide the Department with locations to hold recreational programs.
Outdoor Rental Facilities
The Parks Department provides and maintains numerous outdoor rental facilities. Alverthorpe Park has 4 pavilions, over 40 picnic tables, charcoal grills and a campground. These areas tend to be the most popular during the warmer months. The largest pavilion can accommodate up to 200 people.
Indoor Rental Facilities
Ardsley Community Center and the Crestmont Clubhouse are available for indoor rentals. The Clubhouse is a newly constructed building that was built in 2018 and provides an open floor plan, kitchenette, tables and chairs. The building can accommodate 87 persons during an event. The Ardsley Education Community Center is home to many basketball organizations, Boys and Girls Scouts and winter special programs. The building offers a cafeteria, kitchen and gymnasium and classrooms for rent.
PROGRAMMING AND SPECIAL EVENTS
The Parks Department provides recreational programs year round to Abington Township residents. Our goal is to provide essential parks and recreation services that will enhance the quality of life of those who live in Abington Township.
Spring & Summer Programs
During the spring and summer months, the Parks Department offers a majority of its’ recreation programs. Sports such as soccer, football, Frisbee, cheerleading, basketball are offered throughout the Township. In addition, two outdoor summer playground programs are offered at Crestmont and Penbryn parks. Science, art, sports and theater are among the list of various camps that are offered.
Fall & Winter Programs
During the fall and winters months, the department continues to offer many programs. Most winter activities take place at Ardsley Community Center. Programs are also being scheduled at the Crestmont Community Clubhouse. Basketball, sports equipment swap and theater are just some of the fall/winter programs and events
SWIMMING FACILITIES
The Parks Department is responsible for 2 swimming pool facilities. Each facility has a wading pool for preschool children and under, an intermediate pool and a large pool with a diving well and water slide. Each facility offers group swim lessons and a swim team.
BRIAR BUSH NATURE CENTER (BBNC)
Briar Bush Nature Center (BBNC) is an Abington Parks and Recreation facility. The center provides environmental education programs and nature information to the Abington community and beyond. It is a wonderful amenity that Abington Township residents and outside sources cite as a gem in Abington. Few communities have such a wonderful resource and refuge for nature and people.
Abington residents have grown up with BBNC. Visitors return repeatedly to see their favorite Briar Bush animals, walk to the pond, watch wildlife, or play at the Nature Playscape. Environmental educators and volunteers lead onsite programs and visit schools, daycares, senior living centers and other locales. Many school-age children attend summer camp, campfires, festivals, and birthday party programs. Scouts hold sleepovers and achievement programs with BBNC. Scouts, schools and corporations regularly choose BBNC as a place to perform service projects. The cycle continues: children that grew up at Briar Bush bring their children and their grandchildren back because it has such long-term relevance and meaning to them.
Volunteer service is integral at BBNC; volunteers include youth, adults, special needs groups, community service workers and corporations. Senior staff mentor college interns for in-depth learning. In a typical year, BBNC volunteers donate over 8,000 hours of volunteer work, expanding the reach of every funding dollar.
The Friends of BBNC (FOBB), a non-profit charitable organization, was established in 1973 by citizens who believed in the value of BBNC. Through special events, fund drives, and securing grants, FOBB stretches the value of taxpayer dollars. Significant contributions include:
• Funding roughly 50% of staff salaries and wages through fundraising and program revenue
• Purchase and maintenance of an extra building and property for Township staff and program use
• Securing grants to fund capital improvements, program enhancements, and scholarships
This longstanding public-private partnership is a win-win for Abington: it increases the Township’s capacity to provide an excellent quality of life at a much-reduced cost.
GOALS FOR FY 2022
Goal: Continue to adapt operations and offerings to the COVID-19 pandemic (Focus Area- Safe, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Connected Community (SISCC))
- Objective: Run safe in-person programming to serve a community starving for outdoor and social experiences (SISCC Guiding Principle 3 and 4)
- Strategy: Maintain cleaning, screening, masks and social distancing measures as needed
- Strategy: Keep constantly abreast of CDC and PA Health guidelines for safe operations.
- Objective: Grow virtual offerings (SISCC Guiding Principle 4)
- Strategy: Work with schools, other groups and individuals to assess needs
- Strategy: Education staff works collaboratively to create or expand programs
Goal: Improve facilities and grounds for public safety, access and enjoyment (Focus Areas- Safe, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Connected Community (SISCC))
- Objective: Implement year one of PA DCNR funded Master Site Plan renovations (SISCC Guiding Principle 1,2,3,4, & 5)
- Strategy: Obtain certified construction documents for the project through hiring of Design Consultant
- Strategy: Remove existing Butterfly House structure for increased visibility
- Strategy: Build new Butterfly House and pollinator habitat
- Strategy: Renovate landscape along Edge Hill Road, including improved sight lines, lighting, signage, designation of pedestrian pathways, and expanded rain gardens
- Objective: Improve main museum safety and aesthetic (SISCC Guiding Principle 3 and 5)
- Strategy: Replace obsolete lighting system with energy efficient LED fixtures
- Strategy: Complete repairs and renovations halted due to pandemic
Goal: Improve customer experience and back office efficiency and effectiveness (Focus Areas- Fiscal Sustainability, Economic Growth)
- Objective: Streamline online registration process and contact management (Fiscal Sustainability Guiding Principle 2, Economic Growth Guiding Principle 1)
- Strategy: Procure new on-line registration and contact management system
Goal: Employees are fluent in advances in the field and current best practice (Focus Area- Innovative and High Performing Organization (IHPO))
- Objective: Identify areas where training is desired and/or needed (IHPO Guiding Principle 2)
- Strategy: Staff attend training to improve practices
Goal: Grow residents’ awareness of facilities and offerings (Focus Areas- Safe, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Connected Community (SISCC), Innovative and High Performing Organization (IHPO))
- Objective: Develop a regular social media plan that is consistently engaging (SISCC Guiding Principle 2, IHPO Guiding Principle 2)
- Strategy: Align media plan with Township communications
- Strategy: Develop guidelines for appropriate and most effective content
- Strategy: Create sustainable timeline that includes built-in review periods
- Strategy: Track results and ROI to tweak for maximum efficiency and effectiveness
- Strategy: Tailor outreach schedule to align with tracking (at least a one-year project)
- Strategy: Explore best practice by like organizations; adopt relevant practices
FY 2021 ACHIEVEMENTS
Prime BBNC accomplishments in 2021 included adapting to and recovering from COVID. While still in the midst of the worst part of the pandemic, BBNC staff continued safe, in-person practices for programming. Families desperate to escape from screens and “cabin fever” found a refuge for enjoying nature. Thanks to adherence to our COVID mitigation procedures, as of summer 2021, BBNC had no known transmissions despite thousands of interactions among staff, volunteers and participants.
2021 Programs:
- Spring Public Programs: over 1,600 registrations
- Summer camp: Adapted to the pandemic, full-day camps for children 6-12, half-day for 4-6, and volunteer opportunities for teens who were vaccinated; 300 registrations
- Group Programs: As of August, around 4,000 people had registered with groups in 2021
- Fall Public Programs: Capacity for over 1,200 registrations through December
- New Online Registration System: Created a better user experience and streamlined business practices
Site Projects:
- Master Plan Improvements: Completed design and engineering for DCNR funded park development project; started construction phase with Public Works, BBNC staff, and volunteer labor
- New Program Space: Converted a maintenance garage into a de facto pavilion, Public Works department installed heaters and Girl Scout volunteers cleaned and painted the space
- Reforestation: Cleared debris from major storms in 2020 and planted over 50 trees and shrubs with volunteers in spring 2021 and plan for at least 50 more in fall
- Storybook Trail: As a way to enrich visits by young families looking for safe, outdoor, social distanced activities, created an interactive experience for walking the trails
BRIAR BUSH NATURE CENTER PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES BY FUNCTION
EXHIBITIONS AND FACILITIES
All amenities are free to Township residents. BBNC encompasses 12 acres and includes a Nature Museum, seasonal Butterfly House, pond, nature playscape, the Griscom Bird Observatory, a garage converted to a public program space, outdoor wild bird enclosures, a bird-feeder area landscaped with native plants and a water feature, and about a mile of trails.
Museum Building
The Museum Building is the primary indoor area with restrooms, exhibit and program space, animal care rooms, office space, and storage. Some exhibits are changed regularly in order to maintain visitors’ interest, but the primary focus is our live animal collection. The “animal ambassadors” are non-releasable native PA species or rescued pets that can represent native animals. They include arthropods, birds, reptiles, and mammals.
Butterfly House
Second grade classes in the Township raise butterflies which should not be released into the wild, where they may introduce diseases or genetic mutations. The butterfly house provides a space for classes to let their butterflies live out their days in a natural setting without disrupting local ecosystems. The house will be relocated and renovated in 2021-2022 through a DCNR matching grant.
Griscom Bird Observatory
The Bird Observatory is built on the site of Florence and Everett Griscom’s original log cabin home. The Griscoms founded Briar Bush as a private nature sanctuary, welcoming children and educating people about birds and wildlife. It is from this legacy that BBNC grew into its current state. A 2019 grant-funded remodel includes modernized interactive exhibits and accessibility improvements.
Nature Playscape
The Nature Playscape was the region’s first nature play area of its kind, now fairly common throughout the state. Logs to climb on, sandpit to dig in, forts to take apart and build, a water feature to dam and redirect. Many studies show that nature builds confidence, helps children problem solve, focuses attention and generally helps them perform better academically and socially. They may get a little dirty, but it’s worth it!
Garage/Pavilion
Due to the high demand for our programs, staff converted a garage into a program space in 2019. It has been absolutely key in BBNC response to COVID-19, providing a safe, covered, outdoor activity area. Through a DCNR matching grant, this crude cinder block building will be renovated into a more welcoming pavilion, befitting of Abington Township quality. Tools and equipment are now stored in the adjacent Friends of Briar Bush building.
Trails
BBNC trails are open dawn to dusk. Our trails have seen much increased use during COVID-19 restrictions with families gracious to have an escape from screen to green.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Children
Toddlers, preschool, after-school programs, school’s out programs, summer camps, spring and winter break camps.
Families and Individuals
Campfires, free seasonal festivals, Family Nature Nights (for families affected by ASD), birthday parties (on and off-site), animal encounters, senior citizen lecture series, guided nature walks for adults, van trips to natural and cultural sites, and volunteer opportunities.
Groups
Includes Scout groups, fraternal organizations, religious groups, meet-ups, animal programs, StarLab astronomy programs, and team-building games.
CURRICULA-BASED PROGRAMS
BBNC has worked with the Abington School District for over five decades, providing enriched learning supplements based on curriculum. We have recently expanded to nearby districts and private schools and introduced a public homeschool program. In particular, Hatboro-Horsham has contracted our educators to write and teach outdoor lessons for every class in grades 1-7 at their Jarrett Nature Center natural area. We also provide age-appropriate lessons to pre-schools throughout the region.
Classes and homeschool groups also visit BBNC for guided seasonal walks, animal programs and other lessons.
TECHINCAL SERVICES
BBNC provides FAQ’s for our residents, media, and Township officials on anything related to nature. In addition, BBNC is proactive in disseminating information through informative newsletter articles, social media and video posts, exhibits, in person at fairs and festivals, and on the Abington cable channel.
BBNC staff are responsive to resident comments, suggestions, and concerns. Like the Public Library, BBNC receives daily requests, though related to nature rather than books: What do I do if there are bees in my yard? What do I do about a bird that fell out of a nest? Where can I take an injured animal? What can go into my recycling? Do you have a volunteer opportunity for my child? and many, many more.