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undervalue what they've got and put a damper on the ability Cleveland charges so few fees that the agency doesn't even track
<br /> to reform themselves." the income.
<br /> At the spectrum's other end is David Fisher,superintendent of Many other cities,however,have been willing(or forced by
<br /> • the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board."I think we have to be circumstances) to put more eggs into the fee basket. Portland,
<br /> real careful,"Fisher replies."We serve all people.The imposition of Oregon,for instance,receives just 57 percent of its budget from
<br /> a fee is as bad as the imposition of a tax.We shouldn't just look the city and must generate more than$20 million in other ways.
<br /> around for something that's popular and then charge for it.Park San Francisco Recreation and Park Department gets$30.3
<br /> users have already paid for the parks once,why should we make million from fees-38 percent of its budget.
<br /> them pay again?We're not talking about wealthy communities The nation's two largest fee-generating park agencies are
<br /> where virtually 100 percent of the people can afford to pay.We're those of New York and Chicago,and in both cities,ironically,
<br /> talking about cities.Do we really want to say to these people,`Only the single biggest source of fee revenue is from automobile
<br /> those who can afford to pay can play?'" parking.New York Department of Parks and Recreation owns
<br /> Tom Forman is representative of the park professional Shea Stadium and receives that parking revenue; Chicago Park
<br /> caught in the middle of this debate.A manager in District has Soldier Field and a huge garage under Grant Park
<br /> Baltimore's Bureau of Recreation, he says, "It's a catch-22. If near the Loop.
<br /> . you raise the fees the community people ask, `What am I After parking,golf is the largest revenue source for New
<br /> going to get in addition to what I've gotten in the past?' It's York,as it is for most park agencies. Other profitable ventures
<br /> a public relations battle. On the other hand, at these prices for many cities include tennis (particularly indoors),boat
<br /> the fields are pretty much booked solid. They're so heavily marinas,weddings and other special events at noteworthy
<br /> used that we have to play on them even during what should mansions or gardens,and restaurants.Enterprises that are
<br /> be a dormant period. It's generally less lucrative include swimming pools, ice skating
<br /> bad for the fields. We're rinks,ballfields,playgrounds,and bike trails.
<br /> Market-based looking at additional
<br /> land opportunities that Voluntary Fees
<br /> recreation is gaining we have control over, A seeming contradiction in terms,the"voluntary fee" (or
<br /> credence throughout but you can't just use "mandatory contribution") is the newest twist in recreation
<br /> every piece of vacant revenue enhancement.Adopted in 1995 by New or in its
<br /> the country, most land out there. There recreation centers,the concept has been one of the department's
<br /> notably in suburban, e are conservation issues, great financial(and recreational)successes.For a once-a-year
<br /> community issues— donation (suggested to be in the$10-to-$25 range),New
<br /> • higher-income some communities don't Yorkers get a membership card to use the local recreation
<br /> want ballfields in their center.The city uses the fee/contribution money to upgrade the
<br /> jurisdictions but open space." center and restore other rec centers.Those who claim they
<br /> gradually also in Today's politics being cannot afford to pay are asked to fill out a form and then get a
<br /> what they are,market- free membership card.The parks department is considering
<br /> inner-city locations. based recreation is introducing a sweat-equity program so that low-income persons
<br /> gaining credence can do some work in or on the centers in return for recreation.
<br /> throughout the country,most notably in suburban,higher- "Virtually everyone is more than willing to pay,"says Bob
<br /> income jurisdictions but gradually also in inner-city locations— Garafola,deputy commissioner for Management and Recreation.
<br /> although the idealistic"workreation"programs have been "It's the best bargain in New York City.Compare the hundreds
<br /> difficult to design and implement and often seem to have gotten and hundreds of dollars you have to pay at a sports dub,most of
<br /> lost in the shuffle. which have neither a pool nor a basketball court."
<br /> The situation in the Washington, D.C.,suburbs seems
<br /> typical,as explained by David Hobson,director of the Northern Outsourcing
<br /> Virginia Regional Park Authority,a$10.5-million agency that Intertwined with any discussion of fees is the issue of
<br /> gets only 16 percent of its revenue from tax payments. outsourcing,also referred to as"privatization"and"conces-
<br /> "Charging fees is a necessity,"says Hobson. "We would not be sions"—basically,who is it that gets to charge the fee?A
<br /> able to offer the services the public needs and demands if we relatively new concept in the urban park business,outsourcing is
<br /> were not principally a fee-based organization." now a high-growth industry because of the realization that it is
<br /> Some long-established programs have moved only gingerly to often cheaper and more satisfactory to have private concession-
<br /> increase the number of fee programs and the level of fees aires operate specialized entities such as stadiums,marinas,golf
<br /> charged.Baltimore Parks and Recreation,for instance,brings in courses,restaurants,and skating rinks. Generally speaking,
<br /> merely$135,000 in fees,or less than one percent of its$15 revenue-generating operations are most amenable to .
<br /> million program. Providence Parks Department relies on fees outsourcing,although some cities have found it cost-effective to
<br /> for only about$250,000 of its$7.6 million budget.And outsource items such as fleet management and janitorial
<br /> services.
<br /> Competitive outsourcing began in New York,a lesson
<br /> Peter Harnik is a Washington, D.C.-based writer and urban park learned straight from the financial markets downtown.New
<br /> 0 analyst. This report is condensed from a study he carried out for the York's parks department opened some of its programs and
<br /> Trust for Public Land, Funding Urban Parks Without Raising services to a bidding process and let the market determine the
<br /> Taxes,single copies of which are available free of charge to APA value.The first result,in the early 1980s,was spectacular:The
<br /> members. Contact: Trust for Public Land, 666 Pennsylvania Ave. golf program,which had been losing$2 million a year under
<br /> S.E., Washington, DC 20003 or fax 202-544-4723. city management,became a$3-million-a-year profit center
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