By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
It may cost more to take a dip in City Pool, pedal Big Wheels around Safety Town, explore the wild in nature camps, and learn how to play volleyball this year in Bowling Green.
But one item will remain constant. The refreshing freeze pops at the pool concession stand will still cost a quarter.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Board got a peek Tuesday evening at the rate increases being proposed for pool and program fees. The board will have until next month’s meeting to mull over the new rates, which will then go to City Council for passage.
Parks and Recreation Department Director Kristin Otley explained the reasons for the proposed hikes, including the fact that fees have remained unchanged for six years.
“We have not raised fees since 2019,” she said.
Meanwhile, the parks and rec department has dealt with minimum wage increases, growing expenses for materials and supplies, and mounting maintenance costs. The 13-year-old pool and waterpark is requiring more upkeep. Plus, positions previously held by volunteers (like parents coaching teams) often have to be filled now by part-time staff.
“Our budget is a deficit budget again,” Otley said. “It’s not a huge sounding alarm, but we can’t keep dipping into reserves.”
Otley pointed out the city parks offer a lot to local residents for no charge.
“We have a lot of things that are free,” she said, such as all the parks and the shelters when they are not in use by others. No facility rental fee increases are planned, Otley said. Stewardship programs and holiday nature crafts programs will remain at no charge.
As a public entity, the city typically subsidizes youth programs, while asking adults to cover the costs for their programs.
“We are being that good steward of tax dollars and finding that balancing act,” Otley said.
Swimming lessons are another area where grace is given.
“I consider that a safety issue,” she said.
But even with the proposed fee hikes, the Bowling Green program fees are lower than most in the region. Plus, the rate increases will barely move the needle in the revenue column. The proposed increases will bring in an additional $6,700 this year.
“Our deficit is $500,000,” Otley said.
Park board members Emily Keegan and Lisa Lawson asked about increases in tax revenue with the revaluations of property, and any cost-cutting efforts being made.
“We do a pretty good job being as efficient as possible,” Otley said. Staff are cross-trained and moved around to cover busier shifts.
Kids lacking resources for program fees are given waivers for two programs each year. A city program allows families in need to get pool passes at half the cost, and a “Splash Fund” was set up a couple years ago to help with daily swim passes.
The last time pool rates were increased was 2023, when only the fees for non-residents were raised.
The fees for season passes and daily admission are suggested to increase by 10% a year for the next three years.
That means for a family pass, the cost will go from $155 last year to $170.50 this summer. A family pass for non-residents will jump from $191 last year to $210 this year.
A daily pass for city residents will go from $6 for adults to $6.60; K-12 graders from $5.50 to $6; and children 6 and under from $3.75 to $4.25. For non-residents the rates this summer could go to $8.80 for adults, $8 for youth, and $6 for children.
According to graphs presented at Tuesday’s board meeting, inflation increased 50% between 2005 and 2025. Expenses increased 56% more than revenue at the pool. And minimum wage – which is the rate for much of the summer pool help – has gone up from $4.25 to $10.70 an hour.
Even with the proposed rate increase, Bowling Green’s season passes and daily admission costs are lower than the fees at other city pools, such as Perrysburg, Maumee, and others throughout the state.
Following are some examples of the proposed program rate increases for this year.
Youth sports fees:
- After school sports programs (six weeks) – $34 upped to $42 for city residents; $43 to $51 for non-residents.
- Youth volleyball, basketball and softball – $53 to $58 for residents; $62 to $67 for non-residents.
- Competitive youth basketball leagues – $160 to $180 for residents; $169 to $189 for non-residents.
Youth camp fees:
- Recreation day camps (five days for four hours each day) – $63 to $68 for residents; $72 to $77 for non-residents.
- Girl Power Tween Camp – $58 to $63 for residents; $67 to $72 for non-residents.
- Safety Town – $47 to $52 for residents; $57 to $61 for non-residents.
Adult sport program fees:
- Volleyball league – $134-$182 raised to $180-$200 per team.
- Basketball league – $155 raised to $180-$200 per team.
- Sand volleyball – $180 raised to $180-$200 per team.
Natural resource program fees:
- Adult nature programs and workshops – $6-$41 raised to $10-$50 for residents; $9-$52 raised to $15-$60 for non-residents.
- Gardening workshop/conferences – $13-$22 raised to $15-$25 for residents; $17-$25 raised to $24-$35 for non-residents.
- Nature camps (five days) – $53 to $60 for residents; $62 to $69 for non-residents.
- Ecology or Wilderness Explorers Camp – $63 to $70 for residents; $72 to $79 for non-residents.
