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Lowell parks board approves series of summer permits, waives fees for many community events
Summary
At its May 20 meeting the City of Lowell Board of Parks approved a slate of park and field permits for schools, youth sports, cultural events and private gatherings, waiving fees for many organizers while imposing custodial or facility charges on others.
The City of Lowell Board of Parks on May 20 approved a broad set of park and field permits for summer 2025, granting no-fee permits for dozens of school and community activities while imposing specific custodial or facility charges on a smaller group of events.
The board approved grouped school requests for field-day and summer-use permits with no fee, and passed motions clearing space and dates for youth-sports clinics, tournaments and community festivals. Organizers who asked for pavilion or custodial services were told those charges would apply: the board approved a $200 custodial/facility fee for a memorial pavilion reservation, and authorized $150 fees for some private rentals and car wash fundraiser dates. Several events received rain dates when requested.
Board members said the agenda that night focused primarily on routine permit business and community events, and they repeatedly emphasized working with parks staff on logistics. Jeffrey Bolan, who requested weekly Wednesday usage at Harry Allen Field for a disability-sports program, told the board the group intended the schedule to serve “kids in disability sports.” The board approved his Harry Allen Field permit for July and August dates with no fee and cleared a related rain-date request.
Other approvals included the annual Salsa in the Park event (permit for July 12 with rain date July 13, no fee), a Community Connections basketball tournament for middle-school–age youth (no fee), and a series of youth-lacrosse and football clinic dates at city fields (no fee for many youth-sports permits, with custodian charges where a custodian is required). The board also approved a number of private birthday and family gatherings; one pavilion reservation carried a $150 fee and another a $200 custodial fee as noted in the motions.
Board members and staff repeatedly reminded organizers to coordinate directly with parks operations for on-site needs such as porta-potties, custodians and access to electrical outlets. When organizers requested port-a-potties or extra trash barrels the board instructed staff to note those needs on permits so crews could supply them. For events requiring custodians—especially weekend and full-day bookings—the board said organizers must pay the custodian fee before the permit is finalized.
Several motions passed unanimously after brief discussion. Where special circumstances existed—such as additional custodial coverage, equipment delivery, or requests to waive established fees—the board handled each as a separate motion. The board did not adopt any new city policy on fees that night; most adjustments were one-time waivers or item-specific decisions.
The board closed the permit block by urging permit holders to follow up with parks staff about logistical details and to pay any required fees promptly so custodians and other services can be scheduled.
