Exciting news! This peek behind the scenes of State College life is a guest post by local writer Carolyne Meehan. We hope you enjoy it!

It will be fifteen years this summer that we moved our family to State College and I’ve been thinking back to what it was like building roots here, finding my people, making a home and mothering a one year old. I remember a certain energy of being new. It felt like a big permission slip to go explore, ask questions, try things out and meet people.

The magic that is Schlow Library was one of our first discoveries. I am still amazed that you can take home a pile of beautiful books, movies, games and more for free! (Well, tax dollars, I know, but it still feels abundant.) Schlow can be a great resource and support for new parents, offering free developmental screenings and many parent/child classes and activities.

The children’s section was a rich place for my growing one year old to explore. As Connor  teetered at the train table, I would try to sneak in a few pages of a “Lucky Day” book, snagged on my way in. (The librarians place popular titles with long waiting lists on display in the lobby, marked with a four leaf clover. These books feel like winning the lottery for readers.)

We made it to the library at least weekly and joined toddler play times and story hours. I met one of my first friends here. I think it started with Meg asking me about a cookbook I was paging through and then we fell easily into a conversation about our local farmers markets and what kinds of foods we were feeding our chubby little guys. She invited me to join a weekly playgroup with two other moms and their kids that were all close in age.

Pictured: Bernel Road Park (aka “airport park”) and a four-legged meet and greet at Tudek Park

One morning a week, we’d gather at one of our homes so our kids could play and we moms would enjoy conversation and coffee with a homemade baked good prepared by the host. When it was my week to host, I’d experiment with a new recipe, usually with some fruit or vegetable from a farmers market. I remember my apple cake and carrot cakes being big hits with both moms and kids. My more adventurous beet cake with cream cheese icing got mixed reviews (we were always looking for creative ways to sneak more vegetables into our kids’ food).

Playgroup was an anchor to my week for several years. We watched one another’s kids when we had appointments. We brought each other meals when our babies were born. We built a tiny community and supported one another through some of the hardest times of early motherhood.

When my second little guy, Will, was born, Connor was two and a half and full of energy. Parks and playgrounds became a daily adventure. Sometimes we would hit two or three in a given day, depending on weather and napping schedules. When we were in the mood to see horses, we’d go to Tudek Park. For sandbox play, we’d head to Circleville Park. On hot days, we’d go to Spring Creek Park and get our toes in the water. When it wasn’t too hot, we’d head to the Bernel Road Park (which we still call the airport park) with scooters.

Pictured: Playing in puddles at Sunset Park

I never left home without snacks, water bottles and extra layers.  According to Centre Region Parks and Rec, there are 56 regional facilities and parks in the Centre Region spanning over 835 acres. This means we could visit a new park every week of the year and still not get to all of them!

When we’d meet new friends on the swings or while picking wild blackberries, we’d make a plan to meet again for another adventure. If we all got along and decided we liked each other, we’d make another plan and check out a new park.

By the time my third kiddo, Rose, was born, we had a pretty good lay of the land. She spent a lot of time in the carrier napping or hanging out while her brothers ran and played. I would give her a big apple to gnaw on as I made my way around the Boalsburg Farmers Market on Tuesdays while the guys ran right away to get a chocolate goat milk sample from Beyler Farm.

Pictured: Exploring Millbrook Marsh’s boardwalk and a lakeside snooze at Stone Valley/Lake Perez

State College is a place where you can find your people and make your own communities. When you go out and do the activities you love and find places that make you happy, you will find your people there. Libraries, farmers markets, parks and playgrounds could all be great places to make a start.