When you see exciting things happening in Upper Providence Township, it is the result of the Parks and Recreation Department. A team of three full-time and one part-time employees are working behind the scenes and directly with the residents to create non-stop activities for the township. Working hand in hand with the department is the Parks and Recreation Board. The board is composed of five members, all residents of Upper Providence Township, who volunteer to be part of all the excitement. Sue Hoffman, Director of Parks and Recreation, cannot speak highly enough of her board members. “If I did not have park board members like the ones currently serving, it would be hard to host all the events and activities we do. There is never an event where I do not ask the board to come volunteer at because I need extra hands. I cannot speak more highly of my board.”
Their responsibilities include direct involvement in the activities and events that take place all around UPT. More than just meetings “you need to be at events, you need to be involved. You need to feel and see and touch what we do.” The Parks and Recreation Board meets once a month and for the first time ever, took the summer months off, giving all members of the committee a chance to relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor. This did not keep the committee itself from all the work that goes into planning and creating the programs that Upper Providence Township benefits from, including evening concerts, summer camps and regular weekend events.
Their monthly meetings are collaborative and supportive. According to Hoffman, “the board offers the most value to the Parks and Rec Department. They have a lot of value, and they have a lot of ideas, and they are very supportive. I do not ever bring anything to the park board for advice that they do not have a positive message for. I appreciate their positivity. It is a great opportunity every month to run ideas off them. I think right now I'm very spoiled because I have a great board.” Events and activities are planned one year in advance. January and February are planning months and by March, things are in full swing.
Keys to creating successful events, says Hoffman, are “repeating the ones that work and listening to residents and neighboring communities to find and create recreational opportunities that the community can enjoy. Social media listening is one way board members are measuring the success of the events and activities.” Hands-on research is another. On a monthly basis, Board members will go to the Community Centers, talk to visitors, and take surveys to determine if activities that are in place are working and if the board members are listening to what residents want and need. Board members are required to do monthly park watches. One member is assigned to visit one township park a month and speak to at least five people and get their feedback on how the park is doing. It also creates an opportunity to ask about recent events and measure the success. “We have a lot of good feelers out there to see if what we are doing is reaching the public and is it reaching them positively?” Sue said the Parks and Recreation department is always looking for the newest and latest thing and the best way to make positive changes to events and add different programs. “My department wears a lot of hats. We have a very big umbrella of what we do, and the park board is always trying to find ways to make sure that the community is aware of everything that we do.”
Collaboration with other boards including planning and the EAC is an essential part of the success of the Parks and Recreation department. It is mandatory that one board member from Park and recreation be on the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), and it is Hoffman’s hope to get more involved with the Planning Commission. With development on the rise in UPT, “it is good for me to know about new development to make sure our playgrounds, trails, entertainment, and recreational activities for those 200 homes are adequate for the growth. We are starting a good platform to create a Township wide trail base so you can get from everywhere in the Township via trail. That is highly needed for the development. So, our collaboration with the Planning Commission is more important than ever.”
Within every board and committee there are challenges. Getting more volunteers and creating more awareness of who the board members are and the efforts of this group, along with communications surrounding the abundant number of available events and activities for the community are just a few. Park Board members are responsible for doing 4-5 events per year and are also asked to outreach to friends and neighbors and different people in their neighborhoods and friend’s groups and look for volunteers. The department also works with the high school and the Interact league where community service hours can be offered. “Being part of the park board or volunteering through the Parks and Recreation department is a huge opportunity to see the ins and outs of everything that we put on. Volunteering is a great option for people and the Parks and Recreation Department is a great place to start to get involved in the community.” It also has its benefits “When you volunteer for us, it is an event. You get a meal, you get a shirt, you get some kind of swag item to say thank you for being a part of this.”
The Parks & Recreation Board encourages all residents to spread the word about fun events and offerings throughout the township and invites you to volunteer for an event or program! We'd love to meet you! You may volunteer by contacting the Parks & Recreation Department at: uptparksandrec@gmail.com