Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012
Raleigh raises fees for youth sports, park rentals
Residents will pay more to join youth sports leagues, rent facilities
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closeStarting this summer, Raleigh residents will pay more to rent park venues, participate in city-run youth sports leagues and train at city aquatics centers.
The City Council approved a slate of fee increases last week recommended by the parks, recreation and greenway citizen advisory board.
The changes affect thousands of families as well as athletes, sports organizations and civic groups, including:
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A LOOK AT FEE CHANGES The following fee changes will take effect July 1: $18: Youth sports athletic registration fee, an increase of $6 $25: Hourly rental fee for athletic fields and open space, an increase of $5 $325: Daily rental fee for Moore and Nash squares, an increase of $75 $10 to $14: Hourly rental fee per lane for competitive training at city swimming facilities, depending on length of pool. This is an increase of $1 per hour. $150: Hourly rental fee for the Pullen Park carousel before or after normal park hours. This new fee takes effect March 1.
• 5,400 children who play in baseball, football, basketball and softball leagues offered through the city;
• Private swim clubs that train at city aquatics facilities;
• Families and groups wishing to hold weddings, reunions and gatherings at city-run venues such as Mordecai Historic Park and downtown’s Moore and Nash squares.
The increases are expected to generate $99,050 in new revenue in the coming year. Sixty-three percent will go into the city’s general fund with the rest paying for park-related equipment, maintenance, programs and marketing.
The city has to recoup money spent on a long list of park improvement projects, including the $6 million makeover of Pullen Park, said City Councilman John Odom, a parks and greenway advocate.
“All the things that are being done cost money,” he said. “And you’ve got to pay for it some way.”
Searching for revenues
The changes come as Raleigh leaders look for ways to drum up revenue in a grim budget year. A $12 million budget shortfall last year led to fewer park cleanings, delays to street repaving and the cancellation of Raleigh Wide Open, a downtown street festival.
Many parks fees had not been raised for several years, parks board members noted. For example, the citywide youth sports registration fee has been $12 since 2004.
“This is an opportunity to make adjustments that have been needed for a while,” said board chairman Mark Turner. “I didn’t feel they were necessarily drastic ... The variety of programs and offerings are still a very good deal for the public.”
At city aquatics facilities, lane rentals for competitive training will increase by $1 per lane, per hour – a change that will add up for swim teams that use multiple lanes for training sessions.
Carousel for rent
The city will also introduce new fees at some parks venues.
Groups can now host private events at the historic Pullen Park carousel, which was refurbished as part of the park renovation completed in November.
The city will charge $150 per hour to rent the carousel before and after the park closes. There’s also an option to rent the shelter that houses the ride for $30 per hour with a two-hour minimum.
Couples will pay more for weddings at Mordecai Historic Park. The non-resident fee for the chapel and grounds at Mordecai will be $125 per hour with an eight-hour minimum. The fee for residents is $100.
Renting Moore and Nash squares for the day will now cost $325, an increase of $75. The squares were rented on 14 occasions in the past year for festivals and special events, city officials said.
