Park Authority Board proposes fee increases
The Fairfax County Park Authority Board is proposing fee increases at rec centers and other park facilities.
Members of the public are invited to a virtual meeting on Nov. 15, 7 p.m., on the 2024 fee schedule. Anyone who wants to speak can sign up in advance by contacting the Park Authority’s Public Information Office at [email protected] or 703-324-8700. Access the meeting here.
Comments can also be submitted online.
The proposed fee increases include the following:
- Golf – Nine holes of golf at Pinecrest Golf Course in Mason District would rise from $25 to $29 on weekdays and $30 to $34 on weekends.
- Rec centers – The base fee would be $14, up from $12. The rate for seniors and students (ages 5-18) would be $12, up from $10.50. The rate for families would rise from $39 to $43.
- Discount fast passes (for 25 visits) would increase from $250 to $275.
- Lake Accotink Park – New charges would be added for renting a picnic pavilion at Lake Accotink Park: $145 for a full day, $115 for a half day, and $100 for a two-hour time slot. Carousel rides would increase from $3.50 to $4 on weekdays and from $4.50 to $5 on weekends and holidays.
- Amphitheater – The hourly rate for renting the amphitheater at Mason District Park would increase from $40 to $50.
- Green Spring photography – A new $15 per-hour fee would be established for small group photo sessions (with one to 11 people). The fee for photo sessions with 12-19 people would rise from $25 to $30 per hour, and the hourly fee for sessions with 20-74 people would rise from $50 to $60. All reservations for photo shoots require a two-hour minimum.
According to the Park Authority, revenue from golf courses increased 9 percent in fiscal year 2023 from the previous year. During the same period, rec center revenue increased 17 percent, and attendance increased 31 percent.
The Park Authority says the higher fees are necessary to offset increased costs for employee compensation and benefits, the need to rebuild a 10 percent reserve in its revenue and operating fund that was depleted during COVID, and the need to catch up with deferred maintenance.
The Park Authority estimates the proposed fee increases would generate over $1,037,000 in new revenue.
A majority of the Park Authority’s budget, 65 percent, comes from its revenue and operating fund, which is required to be self-sustaining. The operating budget is supported by fees for programs, classes, services, and amenities. The remaining 35 percent comes from the Fairfax County general fund.
“Green Spring photography – A new $15 per-hour fee would be established for small group photo sessions (with one to 11 people).”
So I have to pay to take pictures at a park that I already pay for? What’s next, a walking fee?
That plus don’t forget the FC Board of Supervisors decided to lower your mileage knowing full well that assessments went up and thus still got a tax increase on us. All while increasing their own salary.
I understand the need for increasing revenue to offset costs and increase the reserve, but it is a shame it cannot be collected in different ways that would leave the entrance fees to be as cheap as possible. For example, higher rental fees for private groups who want to use courts, higher fees for sports leagues and so on. We should be encouraging people to work out!
When I lived in Arlington County I was able to pay $16/month for access to all of the rec centers, and their drop-in fee is $5 per day. The rec centers may have been bare bones, but they worked great for me. The Fairfax fees work out to $55.75/month for an adult and $12 for a drop-in. Fairfax County has plenty of money, the rec centers should be monetarily accessible to everyone.
A relative works at one of the rec centers. He says their operations are totally supported by user fees. Employees are not highly paid, and turnover is high. Rec centers are important to so many people in the county. They need to be supported financially. I support the increases.
Parks and libraries only make up 1.3% of the county budget. Meanwhile health and welfare spending is 9x that amount (11.5% of the budget). It’s fine to help people that need it, but the parks department shouldn’t be scrounging for money while so much of our tax dollars are essentially used for charity.
Wish I could say gyms like LifeTime and Golds are worth the extra cost. But those places are just as shabby and dirty as the county rec centers. But hey cleanliness doesn’t matter — what’s the worst that could happen ? Deadly pandemic? Nah! That’s impossible. Let’s just swim in our neighbors’ urine and phlegm.