By Ronica Shannon
The cost for several services offered by Richmond Park’s and Recreation Department were increased Tuesday after the city commission adopted three orders establishing new usage rates for facilities.
The city’s parks and recreation center, at 321 N. Second Street, often is rented for birthdays, family dinners and other events.
However, “... rates must be established to cover the costs of expenses for the use of the facility,” the order reads.
The previous hourly rate for use of the building’s basement or gymnasium of $12 an hour has been increased to $30 per hour.
The building’s facilities are available for use any time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and is reserved in hourly increments only.
Use of the basement or gymnasium never has required a deposit, but the new order mandates a $50 cash deposit that is refundable a week after rental if the facility is left clean and is not damaged.
The renter is responsible for cleaning the facility, and cleaning materials will be supplied, according to the order.
There is no charge for the building’s use for meetings Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Facility user rates for the Betty Miller Center on N. Estill Avenue have increased from $45 a day to $30 an hour, and can be used between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Use of the facility also requires a $50 refundable cash deposit.
There is no charge for groups to use the center for meetings Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Rates for the parks and recreation’s after-school program also increased, but much to the dismay of Amy McDowell, director of the city’s after-school program.
The rate increases came to her from city government administration so that the program can remain self-sufficient, McDowell said.
“The program has been losing money for a long time, and I think (city government administration) is just now realizing how much it was losing,” she said.
All city department heads previously were asked by Interim City Manager Jimmy Howard to cut their department budget by at least 5 percent.
“We did not want to have to do this, but in order for us to be able to maintain our program and provide good programming for the kids, we needed more funding,” McDowell said.
Tuition for children arriving at the parks and recreation building before 3 p.m. have increased from $25 a week to $40 a week. These rates are for children who are considered full-time, meaning they attend the center four to five days a week.
The fee for children of part-time status, meaning they only attend the center one to three days a week and arrive before 3 p.m., has increased from $6 a day to $9 a day.
Fees for children of full-time status who arrive at the center after 3:30 p.m. have increased from $25 a week to $35 a week, and children of part-time status arriving after 3:30 p.m. will be charged $8 per day, rather than the previous fee of $6 per day.
“Families with two or more children will receive a $5 discount on the full-time rate that applies to the second and subsequent children,” the order reads.
The half-day preschool/kindergarten program, which is available Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., now is being provided for a charge of $50 per week.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
