Doylestown Township Breaks Ground On $12.9M Central Park Project

DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Bundled up against the cold, Doylestown Township officials on Tuesday broke ground on a nearly $13 million project that will enhance Central Park with new athletic courts, a comfort station, and a community recreation center.

Barbara Lyons, the chair of the township's board of supervisors, called the groundbreaking "the start of an amazing adventure" that will bring new recreational opportunities to Central Park - the township's pride and joy - and new memories to the people who use the park.

At the heart of the $12.9 million project will be a new 18,000-square-foot community recreation center to be built on Wells Road next to the township building.

The center will be anchored by a 7,700-square-foot indoor gymnasium and will include a 300-square-foot warming kitchen designed and sponsored by Gerhard's Appliances, a 2,850-square-foot all-purpose room, a lobby sponsored by Dr. John Gribb in memory of his wife, and a 900-square-foot indoor/outdoor patio area with a fireplace.

The Central Park Improvement Project also includes the construction of two new basketball courts, four new tennis courts, six pickleball courts, and two bocce ball courts, which will be the home base for the Special Olympics Bocce Ball Team. The new courts are sponsored by Jim Plummer.

In addition, a Comfort Cottage housing public restrooms will be built near Kids Castle and the park's outdoor amphitheater. It will serve all the outdoor areas of Central Park.

"There's been a need for new gym space and new courts. Now there's going to be plenty to serve that need," said Lyons. "And this is going to serve everyone from little kids to my age and older. It's something for everyone."

State Senator Steve Santarsiero at the groundbreaking. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

State Rep. Tim Brennan at the groundbreaking. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

State Senator Steve Santarsiero who helped secure $1.5 million for the project commended township officials for having the foresight to bring what's going to be an "awesome amenity" to the township.

"It's easy for people to be against this kind of thing, but then the funny thing is once it is built everyone loves it," said Santarsiero. "I'm glad we at the state were able to come through with our capital grant and I know it's made a difference. This will be a focal point of the township for many years to come. It's a win for Doylestown Township and the whole area."

State Rep. Tim Brennan commended the township for upholding its "standard of excellence" in planning and moving forward with the new enhancements to the park.

"This is the perfect reflection of this community," said Brennan of the park. "This is the 30th anniversary of Central Park and it continues to be a jewel here and throughout Central Bucks. This park system represents the standard of excellence they have here in Doylestown Township that everyone should be proud of."

Supervisor Jennifer Herring said the improvements to the park are a long time in coming and have been in the planning stages for decades.

"I'm excited because there are so many different elements to this project that are needed," said Herring, who pointed to the comfort cottage as one of those elements. "I've been wanting that since I became a supervisor," she said.

Herring said she's also excited by the new opportunities the new courts and the new community recreation center will bring to Central Park, allowing the township to enhance its park and recreation offerings and opportunities while becoming a place that brings the community together.

"We have a wonderful parks and recreation program, but we just didn't have the facilities for them," she said. "There are so many things that we could be doing and we've been missing that."

The township will pay for the improvements with $1.5 million in grants secured by Santarsiero and State Rep. Tim Brennan, $400,000 in budgetary transfers, $720,000 from the sale of a cell tower, and funds raised through its capital campaign, which has a goal of matching the $1.5 million from the state.

The balance will be funded by a bond issue which is projected to cost the average township taxpayer about $93 a year in additional municipal taxes.

Lyons used the occasion of the groundbreaking to kick off the Marv and Deanna Woodall Matching Gift Challenge, which will run through March 1. All donations made to the capital campaign will be used to match a $25,000 gift from the Woodalls.

Lyons anticipates a year-long construction project with the potential for a ribbon cutting at this time next year or in early 2025 on the new recreation center.

“This project will revitalize a portion of our municipal campus currently in need of restoration,” said Lyons. “The removal of outdated and run-down outdoor activity courts and the construction of new sports court facilities will reflect contemporary sports demands providing more opportunities for our Doylestown Township neighbors to be physically active and engaged in a healthy lifestyle.

“The new basketball, bocce, pickleball, and tennis courts will transform the space into an inviting recreation area that serves more of our citizens, as well as our youth programming activities," she said.

“And the addition of the Family Comfort Cottage that will house long-awaited permanent restrooms, and a water filling station will make the sports courts, the park, and the amphitheater a destination that can comfortably serve the needs of our residents. This transformation will make Central Park a true destination,” she said.