Municipalities looking for park rentals to return 'to normal'

Parks and outdoor spaces drew loads of visitors during the covid-19 pandemic but pavilion rentals waned.

With Gov. Tom Wolf lifting most mitigation mandates at midnight on Memorial Day, officials are gearing up for what they hope is a busy picnic season in area parks.

“We expect our rentals to return to 2019 levels this year, especially since we are upgrading all of our park pavilions over the next 60 days,” Hampton Manager Chris Lochner said.

“Graduation parties, class reunions and family reunions are a big use for our facilities.”

Lochner said pavilion revenue was impacted last year because of gathering restrictions. The township rented some spaces but much less than in years past, he said.

Hampton Community Park includes eight pavilions, all complete with picnic tables, lights, electrical outlets and grills. Pavilion rates are $100 for residents and $150 for nonresidents.

In Indiana Township, Manager Dan Anderson said he also expects park rentals to climb this year.

There are several options of pavilions and gazebos at the Emmerling and Middle Road parks, as well as the Rural Ridge Parklet.

Fees are determined by the number of people and start at $65.

Covid-19 restrictions forced about a 40% loss in revenue, with 2020 pavilion rentals bringing in $4,275, down from $7,336, Anderson said.

“Our pavilions were available last year but our total number of rentals in 2020 was 44,” Anderson said.

“That was down from 75 in 2019.”

It’s already looking up for this summer, he said, with 71 rentals scheduled.

O’Hara Manager Julie Jakubec said the township stopped all shelter/gazebo rentals in 2020 because of the pandemic.

She expects a good year but said a return to normal might take awhile.

“I suspect that we will not be back to the normal volume of rentals until 2022,” Jakubec said.

The gazebo at O’Hara Township Community Park and the picnic shelters and ballfields at O’Hara Community, Meadow and Woodland Parks, along with the ballfield at Schafer Park can be reserved. All other park amenities are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Residents can begin renting June 1. Applications will open to nonresidents June 2.