WREC Makes Move to Warminster Park

The boxes have been packed and moved, the handicap ramp has been constructed and the lights have been turned on. As of Tuesday, May 28, the Warminster Parks and Recreation Department has officially switched its home to Warminster Community Park.

It's hard not to notice the change from a spacious, if a bit rundown, 40,000 sq.-ft. multi-room school to the smaller, 2,800 sq.-ft. modular building located just behind the WCP's parking lot. Despite the reduction, some deft scheduling and a little help from other community organizations have allowed the Parks and Rec staff to put together a full program of classes and events for the summer, an important fact the staff members would like township residents to remember.

"When the residents heard we were closing the WREC, they thought it meant we were gone for good," said Renae Stecklein. "Registration for activities has really dropped."

Fitness classes will take place in the exercise room located at the WREC's new office. The other classroom is for meetings and activities such as cartooning classes. None of the summer camps will be held at the park. Instead, space has been made available at Log College, William Tennent and St. Andrew's United Methodist Church.

The Parks and Rec offices were forced to move after the township decided to return its former home to the Centennial School District. The old Hart Elementary School was given to the township for one dollar, but the district held on to a reversionary clause in the lease that would allow Centennial to take back the property at any time. This clause made it it difficult for the township to make any significant renovations or repairs out of fear of losing the building.

The loss of several rent-paying tenants in 2011 created a $180,000 hole in the Parks and Rec budget that could not be overcome. Negotiations with the school district to purchase the reversionary clause came up empty, and finally, in August 2012, the supervisors okayed the closure and return of the property.

Surplus items from the old building are still for sale to interested residents. The final moving sale for items such as a tabletop shuffleboard set, theatrical costumes and props and a human bowling set takes place Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon.

Plans are in motion to continue expanding the WREC's new home. A representative from Milligan & Company is working to secure a $1.7 million grant from Pennsylvania's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). If awarded, the current plan is to use the money to construct a gymnasium on the Warminster Community Park grounds.

Related stories:

• Centennial OKs Appraisals for District Properties
• Moving the WREC: Human Bowling Set For Sale
• 2 Warminster Polling Places Relocated
• Murky Year Ahead for Warminster Parks and Rec
• Warminster Takes First Steps Toward New WREC Facility
• Warminster Board Okays Start of WREC Closure
• Future of WREC Remains Uncertain
• New Proposal Could Give Warminster Ownership of WREC Center