Raising fees wrong way to promote recreation

If the idea is for the city of McMinnville to have a thriving Parks and Recreation Department, city leaders sure have an odd way of promoting participation.
Get ready because fees are increasing again.
Beginning July 1, fees for just about any type of recreational activity that has anything to do with the city will be higher. If there’s a ball, a park, or a community room involved, be prepared to pay more for city-related programs.
For a society that’s becoming more and more sedentary, the last thing we need is more roadblocks to physical activity. City fees are getting so high, they might discourage some people from going to the gym or signing up their child for soccer.
It’s true prices are going up around the country. We all know about how gas and food costs are skyrocketing. It’s gotten to the point where people expect many things to cost more than they did a year ago.
That said, so much of a community’s vitality is achieved through Parks and Recreation, and our local department has long prided itself on providing affordable activities and facilities.
Active families expect to have walking trails and tennis courts available. In the summer, having a quality pool and well-organized ball leagues help promote a better quality of life for everyone here.
For a community our size, McMinnville officials have been able to maintain a first-rate Parks and Recreation Department without exorbitant registration or admission fees. But that is beginning to change.
It wasn’t too many years ago it cost $1 to work out or shoot basketball at the Civic Center. Come July 1, that fee will increase to $3. Monthly passes to the Civic Center will cost an eye-opening $40 for people who live outside McMinnville city limits.
But that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Fees for a number of city-run programs, from Kids Camp to youth and adult sport leagues, will cost more in July.
While rising costs are a part of life, city officials are reaching the point of diminishing returns. Fees are getting so high, it’s going to prevent some people from using city facilities. What’s next, a toll booth for the greenway?
The city is walking a delicate line when it comes to Parks and Recreation. It’s coming close to pricing itself out of the ballpark.