Parks and Recreation
Department Profile

"Our mission is to improve the quality of life within the community by providing activities, facilities, and opportunities for enhanced physical, mental, and social health."

The offices of the Lower Paxton Township Parks and Recreation Department are located in the Friendship Community Center, 5000 Commons Dr., Harrisburg, Pa.  17112.  The Department may be contacted by telephone. Mr. Brian Luetchford serves as Director of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Lower Paxton Township, through its Parks and Recreation Department, provides over 200 acres of park land for public use, while annually offering in excess of 300 recreation programs, trips, and special events.  Each year, over 12,000 individuals participate in activities sponsored by the Department.  Through the offering of these programs and services, the Department seeks to promote the concept of personal well-being in the form of physical, social, and mental health.

Lower Paxton Township possesses 17 public park facilities and approximately 283 acres of park land.  Park facilities range from lightly developed forest and mountain land to established athletic fields, playgrounds, and ball courts.  Large, Township-owned regional parks (over 10 acres) include: Koons, Brightbill, Kohl, and Lingle Parks.  Neighborhood park properties (smaller than 10 acres) include: Centennial Acres, Forest Hills, Hocker, Hodges Heights,  Kings Crossing, Ranger, Hurley, Lamplight, and Meadowbrook  Parks.  The inventory of outdoor recreational facilities includes baseball, softball, soccer and football fields; basketball, tennis, volleyball, bocce and racquetball courts; picnic pavilions; nature trails; playground equipment and ancillary facilities such as parking lots, restrooms, and storage areas.

The Parks and Recreation department is responsible for the use of park land by the general public.   It is estimated that over one-half million visits are made to the Township's system of parks every year.

The 2004 operating budget for the Parks and Recreation Department includes General Fund expenditures of $752,720.00 and revenues of $619,380.00. Capital improvements for park facilities are funded, in part in the General Improvement Fund.  The fiscal year 2004 operating budget for the Friendship Comunity Center is balanced, with revenues and expenditures both totaling $1,968,800.00.

The network of public parks serving Lower Paxton Township is maintained by the Public Works Department and funding for these activities is included within its budget.  This network has proven to be effective in meeting the recreational needs of our community.  The Board of Supervisors has implemented plans over the past five years to expand park facilities, with over $2 million in new additions to the Township's system of public parks.  On a long term basis the Board, as recommended by the 1992 Comprehensive Plan, is pursuing the development of a fifth regional park on land recently donated to our community by AMP, Inc.

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