adult sports leagues, tournaments and camps. They tend to be most popular in colder climates but are also being built in very hot regions of the country. These facilities are either built as standalone amenities or may be included in recreation centers in a regional park. These facilities are not prevalent in Pennsylvania as public amenities.

Tennis/Pickleball Center – An 8-24 lighted court complex on 2-4 acres that has a stadium court, central restroom, concession, and pro-shop area. Many larger communities in Pennsylvania do have a tennis center, and those that exist are also now adding or converting to pickleball courts.

Amphitheater – An amphitheater can be either a community sized amenity (under 1,000 seats, some permanent and some lawn with a small stage and storage area) or a large regional facility (1,000 to 3,000 seats, some permanent and some lawn with a large, covered stage, restrooms and concessions). An amphitheater requires 2 to 4 acres of land with a community facility being located in a community park and a regional facility in a regional park. Some types of amphitheater are an element in many larger communities in Pennsylvania.

Nature Center/Interpretive Center – A small indoor and outdoor space (usually under 10,000 sq.ft.) for viewing and observing nature as well as for classroom space and exhibits. A nature center is usually located in conjunction with a preserve or open space area. This type of indoor facility is not common in many Pennsylvania communities.

Other Recreation Facility Trends

  • Many communities are now developing an indoor facility level of service (LOS) standard that is between 1SF to 2SF per person.
  • The development of capital replacement budgets for key facility amenities with an established funding source.
  • Outsourcing operations and management to other organizations. This is particularly true for specialty facilities.
  • Much stronger emphasis on generating revenues to offset the cost of operations.
  • Moving away from smaller community buildings and neighborhood pools to more comprehensive facilities that serve a larger population base.
  • Comprehensive tracking of operations, utilization, and budget metrics to justify facilities.
  • For new facilities it is common for the following to occur.
  • The completion of a feasibility study to determine need, site, amenities, capital and operations costs.
  • Identification of specific funding sources for capital and operations
  • Integration of the public into the planning and development.

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