2008 News

January 28, 2008

Commissioners Pledge Support for Bristol Twp. Recreational Projects
First Tee Program to Provide Unique, Character-Building Experience

The Board of Bucks County Commissioners is committed to providing quality recreational outlets for the county’s diverse citizenry. To that end, Commissioners’ Chairman James F. Cawley, Esq. joined Commissioner Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW and Executive Director of Parks and Recreation Bill Mitchell to discuss the county’s proposed First Tee program during the January 24 meeting of the Bristol Township Council. First Tee, to be built through a public-private partnership with Waste Management, will provide a three-hole golf layout adjacent to New Falls Rd., near Five Points.

During the Bristol Township meeting, Commissioner Cawley elaborated on the First Tee mission, “to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.”

The chairman spoke of “broadening horizons” through First Tee’s structure, offering several solutions to help the township build a skate park that would serve as a complement to the proposed golf course. These solutions include leasing county land for the skate park, providing a no-interest loan for construction, and enlisting in-kind building services from members of the local labor community.

“This shouldn’t be an either-or situation,” Chairman Cawley told the council.

Each year, more than 2.2 million participants take part in First Tee’s structured activities. At the program’s core are nine clearly defined values, all of which are intrinsic to the adolescent community: sportsmanship; confidence; responsibility; courtesy; honesty; integrity; judgment; perseverance and respect. For more information about the First Tee program, please visit the organization’s Web site at www.thefirsttee.org.