Staunton City Council is reviewing the possibility of increasing pool and facility activities fees at Gypsy Hill Park and Montgomery Hall Park.
City Manager Leslie Beauregard said city staff has worked with Staunton Parks & Recreation, and city staff requested a discussion to increase fees. City staff looked at costs for residents and non-residents.
“The reason I’m here and the reason why we’re making a recommendation is many of our fees haven’t changed in over 20 years, some longer than that,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Chris Tuttle. “The fee structure change is based on the market research the staff did.”
Staff looked at fees locally and regionally, and took increased labor costs of the last 20 years into consideration.
Facilities were previously only available to residents of Staunton, but non-residents will now have access.
The current rate to rent Gypsy Hill Park Bandstand all day is $35 per day for residents and non-residents. Staff recommend increasing to $100 per day for residents, $150 per day for non-residents, with a $50 fee for four-hour rentals for residents and a $75 fee for non-residents.
New City Council member Jeff Overholtzer asked what the city brings in for rental fees in one year. Tuttle said approximately $20,000.
Currently, renting the park’s Garden Center is $75 per day for residents and non-residents. Staff recommend $150 for residents and $175 for non-residents, with a $50 deposit. Four-hour rentals would be available for residents for $100 and for non-residents at $125.
At Montgomery Hall, facilities are available for $75 per day. Proposed fee changes are for $300 per day for residents and $350 per day for non-residents. Deposits of $50 are also necessary. And four-hour rental fees would be available for $150 for residents and $200 for non-residents. Fees for additional hours would be $35 per hour for residents and $40 per hour for non-residents.
Gypsy Hill Park Gym and Booker T. Washington Community Center rates are currently $30 an hour or $275 per day. Staff recommends fee increases to $300 per day for residents and $350 per day for non-residents. Four-hour rental fees would be $120 for residents and $160 for non-residents. Additional hours would be available for $30 per hour for residents and $40 per hour for non-residents.
Tuttle added that Parks and Recreation staff are on site when activities are being held at Gypsy Hill Park gym and Booker T. Washington Community Center. Most activities are birthday parties.
Field rental for Montgomery Hall Park is $200 all day. Proposed fee changes would be $200 for residents and $225 for non-residents. When lights are necessary, the fee would be $20 per hour.
According to Tuttle, the fee to swim at Gypsy Hill Park pool has been $3 per individual for at least 20 years. The fee at Montgomery Hall Park pool has been $2 per person.
The recommendation is that the daily fee become $4 per resident and $5 per non-resident. Family season passes for five individuals, which can be used at either park pool, would be $175 for a family who lives in the city and $200 for families who do not live in the city. Children 4 years old and younger would be free.
Montgomery Hall Park’s pool rate would be $3 per resident and $4 per non-resident.
Summer camp fees are $100 per individual per week with a $10 registration fee. A rate of $750 for all eight weeks if pre-paid has been an option.
“It’s a minimal increase,” Tuttle said of the proposed $125 per week for residents and $150 per week for non-residents. Pre-paid eight weeks would be $950 per resident and $1,150 per non-resident.
Tuttle said summer camp brought in $80,000 in revenue from May to September 2024, but expenditures totaled more than $107,000.
The city is about to advertise for summer camp so the fee increases would be effective for February 2025 registration.
“Since you’re here asking our opinion. This is the one, I mean all of the other fee increases I absolutely understand. We’re well behind the curve on them, but, I mean, we’ve been talking about what we can specifically do to help with childcare, with housing,” said Vice Mayor Brad Arrowood, a single father of two children.
Staunton’s summer camp is one of few affordable options for parents who work during the summer. Arrowood said he disagrees with increasing the city resident fee. He said he stood in line for more than three hours last year to ensure his son obtained spot no. 50 out of 65 for summer camp. Thirty-five percent of participants last year were non-residents.
“This pay increase is going to hurt a lot of people’s pockets as far as summer camp for their kids,” Councilwoman Alice Woods said.
Some parents might already have to pay for childcare during the week in summer. An additional $200 per week per child for summer camp is a lot.
“That’s a chunk,” Arrowood said.
Woods suggested coming up with another plan. Tuttle said the non-resident fee should at least be created.
Councilman Adam Campbell, also a father of two young children, said he agrees with Arrowood and Woods on keeping the resident fee at $100 per week and creating a fee of $150 per week for non-residents.
Discussion on increasing facilities use and pool fees will continue as city council discusses the next year’s budget.
Proposed fee increases would go into effect July 1, 2025, however, the city will honor previous fees for events already scheduled at facilities after July 1.