Community Recreation and Environmental Education Center at Haverford Reserve

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Description:

This past June, Haverford Township’s Board of Commissioners voted in favor of a geothermal energy system for the proposed Community Recreation & Environmental Center, set to be completed in 2012. The facility will be located at Haverford Reserve, on the sprawling 160 acres of land the township has recently developed into a park and nature preserve. The space, located off of Darby and Marple roads in Haverford, was the former home of Haverford State Hospital, which was closed by the state in 1998.

The schematic design for the two-story, 35,000 Community Recreation & Environmental Center incorporates areas for children, adults, and seniors. Included are two full-size gyms, an indoor walking track, a fitness/wellness center, an environmental education area and multi-purpose rooms. The design was drawn up by architects from Kimmel Bogrette to include solar, wind, bio-swales and green roof components as well as interactive energy consumption displays.

Haverford Township plans to use the environmentally-conscious building and its surrounding streams, woodlands and habitats to host environmental education and nature programs, brining the “green initiative” full circle. “This site is ideal for teaching about the outdoors,” says Assistant Township Manager and Director of Parks and Recreation Tim Denny. “The woods, streams, wetlands and wildlife habitat make a great natural classroom and help people understand how all of nature is connected.”

Location:

Havertown, Pennsylvania 19083

Square Footage:

Primary Contact:

Tim Denny, 610-446-9397, tdenny@haverfordtownship.org

Start Date:

01/20/2011

Completion Date:

02/28/2012

Attached Photos:

Members:

HaverfordTwpGreen

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