Doylestown Twp. To Break Ground On Recreation Center, Park Additions

DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The Doylestown Township Board of Supervisors and the Capital Campaign Committee will break ground on Tuesday on its nearly $13 million Community Recreation Center and Central Park Improvement Project.

The event is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at Central Park next to the Doylestown Township Municipal Building at 425 Wells Road.

At the heart of the $12.9 million project is an 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 gymnasium and include a 300 square foot warming kitchen, 2,850 square foot all-purpose room, and a 900 square foot indoor/outdoor patio area.

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.

This shows the location of the new recreation facilities (left) and the Community Recreation Center (orange-colored building) and parking lot. The township building is shown at the far right.

This diagram shows the inside layout of the Community Recreation Center.

In addition, a Comfort Cottage housing public restrooms will be built near Kids Castle and the park's outdoor amphitheater.

The township will pay for the improvements with $1.5 million in grants secured by State Senator Steve Santarsiero, $400,000 in budgetary transfers, and $720,000 from the sale of a cell tower.

In addition, the township's capital campaign continues to raise money for the project, including opportunities for naming rights. The goal of the campaign is to raise $3 million.

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.

“This project will revitalize a portion of our municipal campus currently in need of restoration,” said Barbara Lyons, chair of the board of supervisors. “The removal of outdated and run-down outdoor activity courts and the construction of new sports court facilities will reflect contemporary sports demands providing more opportunities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.

“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.

Supervisor Dan Wood added that with the new building and new athletic courts, the township will be able to expand its programming and turn its parks and recreation department into a self-sustaining program.

"We've been operating our parks and recreation department out of trailers, which has significantly scaled back what they are capable of doing," said Wood.