Council Approves Recreation Fee Increases

The Township Council approved several rate hikes for the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Community Services, Monday.

The hikes target mostly summer recreation camps and Crystal Springs and are designed to get some township programs self-sustainable.

“We’ve adopted the mayor’s plan to move to a self-sustained program,
 said Dave Lonski, president of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board.

This is the second year in a row that the department has asked for fee increases, something that may be paying off, said Lonski. In 2009, he said, approximately $600,000 of the costs to run the summer camps needed to be offset by the township. Last year, that number was approximately $330,000.

Lonski also said increases in fees for Crystal Springs customers are meant to reflect increases in the number of daily users and a decrease in the number of people buying season passes. He also said the Aquatic Center may be looking at adding new attractions in the coming years.

Increases for half day summer camp programs for residents are as follows: Kool Kids early registration, $512 to $524 for early registration, and from $587 to $599 for general registration. Super Stars, from $668 to $684 for early registration, and from $743 to $759 for general registration. Summer Scene, from $822 to $842 for early registration, and from $897 to $917 for general registration.

Increases for full-day summer camp programs are as follows: Kool Kids early registration, from $1,410 to $1,446, and from $1,485 to $1,521 for general registration. Super Stars, $1,518 to $1,554 for early registration, and $1,593 to $1,629 for general registration. Summer Scene I, $1,524 to $1,560 for early registration, and $1,599 to $1,635 for general registration. Summer Scene II, $1,488 to $1,524 for early registration, and $1,563 to $1,599 for general registration.

There is no increase for the Summer Daisy Program, but there will be an increase of $50, $950 to $1,000, for the Daisy Saturday program.

At Crystal Springs, seasonal fees for residents will be as follows: family membership fees will increase from $330 to $350 for early registration and $360 to $400 for late registration; individual memberships will increase from $150 to $160 for early registration, and $170 to $200 for late registration; senior citizen memberships will increase from $110 to $125 for early registration, and from $125 to $150 for late registration. Daily fee increases will be $1 across the board.

Other increases include $10 more for six-hour  boys and girls basketball and boys and girls soccer programs, and in the amount paid to reserve fields.

Athletic field reservations (three-hour max) will increase from $25 to $40, and from $25 to $75 for an additional three hours.