PARKS AND RECREATION
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VOLUNTEER TOWNSHIP RECREATION BOARD
Ordinance No. 131 of the Township of Brecknock dated August 5, 2003 established a Recreation Board to supervise, regulate, equip and maintain Township-funded recreation Programs and Facilities. The Township Recreation Board currently meets periodically in the Township Building, as advertised in advance and is open to all Residents. The Recreation Board shall consist of five (5) members appointed by the Board of Supervisors. All members of the Recreation Board shall be adult residents of Brecknock Township, Berks County, and shall serve without pay, for respective terms of five (5) years each or until their successors are appointed. They may be reimbursed for all expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. An annual budget shall be submitted before the first of October each year, including an analysis of the adequacy and effectiveness of community recreation areas, facilities and leadership of the Township's recreation program and facilities.
The VISION of the Brecknock Township Recreation Board is to provide outstanding recreation facilities, programs and services to residents of the community. The VISION statement is further defined below:
Recreation Board Membership guidelines for BYLAWS and the CODE OF ETHICS have been adopted by the Board to supplement Ordinance No. 31 based on the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Recreation and Parks Board Handbook, Third Edition.
2023 BOARD MEMBERSHIP:
Barbara McIntyre, Chairperson (Term 2023 to 2027)
Dennis Swartz, Vice Chairperson (Term 2023 to 2025)
Lisa A. Peterson (Term expires Sept. 2026)
Dorothy L. Martin (Term expires Sept. 2028)
Mark Molfetta (Term expires Sept. 2026)
PARKS AND RECREATION NEWS
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
BACKGROUND
In a survey sent to all Township Residents in November 2003, the Recreation Board requested input and ideas to be used in preparing a "recreational roadmap" for the future. The overwhelming response was in favor of passive recreation. The Recreation Board has used this as a guide in planning future activities.
COMMUNICATION OF RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
- The encouragement of Township Residents to sign up for the brecknockrec@live.com email notifications for Recreation Board activities.
- The bi-annual Township Newsletter includes Recreation events and activities in some detail.
- On the sign located in front of the Township Building on Alleghenyville Road where Township events are posted.
- The Reading Eagle as advertised in advance of all Meetings.
- Distribution of school Flyers for special events.
OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION PLAN
The Recreation Board took an active role in developing the "recreational roadmap" for the Township during the 2009 development of the Open Space and recreation Plan as adopted by the Township Supervisors.
Below is some of the approved Plan:
Brecknock Township is still generally rural in nature, with many beautiful open areas such as agricultural lands and stream valleys. In recent years, however, the Township has experienced increased residential development. With residential development comes demand for recreation facilities.
The goal of the Township is to preserve the beautiful open spaces in the Township, while also providing for the recreation needs of a growing population.
In this Open Space and Recreation Plan, existing recreation facilities within the Township have been identified, standards for the provision of recreation areas and for specific activities and facilities have been listed, goals of the Township have been established, proposals constituting the Open Space and Recreation Plan have been listed, provisions for implementation of the Open Space and Recreation Plan have been identified, and standards for recreation areas for subdivisions and land developments have been provided.
Open spaces and resources in the Township such as floodplains, wetlands, agricultural lands, steep slopes and woodlands can be preserved through provisions of the Township's Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. As the need for recreational facilities is generated by the residential development occurring within the Township, the Township will look to developers to provide the land and monies to supply the recreation facilities which the residents of the Township will need in the future.
Based on the Berks County Greenway, Park and Recreation Plan dated December 2007, the Brecknock Township U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 Estimate for population is 5184. The PaDEP 2006 State Water Plan projected the Brecknock population at 5399 for 2010 and 6196 in 2020. The National Recreation & Park Association, NRPA suggests that a park system, at a minimum, be composed of a core system of parklands, with a total of 6.25 to 10.5 acres of developed close-to-home space per 1000 population. Currently there is no developed Township recreation acreage in Brecknock. Recreation areas are currently being shared with existing facilities within the Township. The NRPA projections above suggest that for the Township’s population, 33.74 acres be available in 2010 and 38.72 acres in 2020.