Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Permits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lowell City parks panel approves multiple permits, fee adjustments and refunds
Summary
The Lowell City parks panel approved a series of event permits, custodial-fee adjustments and account credits at a meeting that included requests from youth teams, schools, religious groups and community organizers.
At a Lowell City Parks & Recreation meeting, the panel approved a series of park and field permits, granted several refunds or credits for canceled reservations and adjusted custodial fees for overlap dates, the board said during the public session.
The approvals covered a mix of youth-sport practices and fundraisers, school events, a religious outreach event and community gatherings. Board members also authorized refunds and fee transfers where applicants had canceled or reshuffled dates.
Heather, a parks staff member, explained the board’s custodial-fee practice: “Usually, if somebody’s out there to open a gate and everything, we don’t charge a fee because we know it’s a fundraiser for the youth teams.” That explanation guided the panel’s decision on a fund-raiser car wash at Cali Stadium where a custodial fee would apply only if no team representative could open the gate.
Key approvals and motions
- Christina Hem / car wash fundraiser at Cali Stadium: The board approved the requested date and time and authorized the permit with the custodial fee applied if staff must be hired to open and secure the site (custodial fee: $150). Motion carried.
- Lowell Catholic after‑school practices (soccer and cross‑country): Anthony Pontes, elementary and middle school athletic director at Lowell Catholic, requested recurring weekday practices at Cali Park. The board accepted the dates and times as requested at no fee. Motion carried.
- Refund/credit requests for canceled September permits: The board approved a $300 refund/credit for a September 14 reservation canceled before the permitted date, and a $150 credit for a September 13 rain-date cancellation. Motions carried.
- Amended custodial fee for October Cali Stadium dates: The board approved reducing custodial charges for overlapping permit blocks so groups are not double‑billed when multiple permit holders use the site on the same day. The revised allocation for specific October dates was approved so accounts could be updated. Motion carried.
- Shaughnessy Elementary move‑a‑thon: Jason McCreven, principal of Shaughnessy Elementary School, requested a school fundraiser and a rain date. The board accepted the requested dates and waived fees. Motion carried; staff confirmed field maintenance would be scheduled.
- Evangelism outreach at Kerouac Park: Alfredo Jaramillo, a pastor with the United Pentecostal Latin American Church (IPUL Lowell), requested a Sunday outreach event (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). The board voted to waive the fee for that one‑time permit but noted concern about creating a precedent for outside groups; the motion to waive carried.
- Campaign event: Marcos Candido, a candidate for Lowell City Council District 8, requested a campaign event at Tyler Park with a rain date. The panel set the time and approved a combined fee of $100 for the primary date and rain date arrangement (applicant agreed to notify staff promptly if the rain date was not needed). Motion carried.
- Wedding at Kittredge Park green space: Adriana Niveau requested a two‑hour wedding use. The board amended a motion to waive the standard $25 permit fee; the amended, no‑fee motion carried and a commissioner offered to cover the $25 as a personal courtesy.
- Pavilion dog show permit: Danny Tavares requested use of the Jetpack Pavilion for a November dog show and indicated he would email a flyer and coordinate with staff on logistics. The board approved the request at a total fee of $400 (custodial and related charges) and asked staff to confirm whether any additional permits or law‑department review were required because of event size and vendors.
What the board asked staff to do
The board repeatedly asked parks staff to: (1) update accounts and invoices after fee adjustments; (2) confirm on‑site custodial needs for events; (3) tell applicants to notify staff promptly if rain dates are not needed so fees can be avoided; and (4) for larger events (for example the dog show), to check with the law department or licensing offices if special permits or vendor licenses (food trucks, licensed vendors) are required.
Why it matters
The panel’s decisions set short‑term access and cost expectations for community groups that rely on city fields and pavilions for fundraisers, school activities and community events. Staff-directed follow‑ups aim to reduce double‑billing when multiple permit holders share a site and to make sure larger events meet city licensing and liability requirements.
Less critical details and next steps
Staff will issue invoices to the applicants and update permit records; applicants were advised to delay payment until they confirmed use to allow for last‑minute cancellations or credits. For events involving food trucks or licensed vendors, applicants were reminded that vendors must hold required city licenses and obtain any street‑vendor permits if they will operate outside the park footprint.
