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Council asks parks board to consider possible fee structure for Stoneyard Bike Park events
Summary
The city council asked the Board of Parks Commissioners to consider whether to create a fee structure for renting Stoneyard (Stoneeater) Bike Park for organized events; the board was asked to discuss but made no decision.
The city council asked the Lebanon Board of Parks Commissioners to consider whether to adopt a fee structure for organized events at Stoneeater (Stoneyard) Bike Park.
Kevin Krulich relayed the council’s request, saying the park is scheduled to host a youth mountain-bike race in late October and asking the board to consider whether a rental or permit fee structure is appropriate. "So don't need an answer tonight, but definitely something that we'd like you to think about," Krulich said.
Board members and staff discussed the practical experience from a recent event, noting volunteers organized much of the work and a visiting group "Nike" (as referenced in the transcript) performed trail work and did not require extensive parks-department programming support. Krulich cautioned that many city facilities are not charged for use (youth football, soccer) and suggested weighing economic-development benefits and customer expectations before adopting fees.
No formal decision was made; the council asked the parks board to return with a recommendation if the board determines a fee structure is necessary. Parks staff volunteered to work with the council on developing a structure if the board desires.
Why it matters: Instituting fees would change access or revenue models for a popular park; the question involves trade-offs between volunteer-run events and cost recovery or maintenance funding. The board will consider the issue and may return to the council with a proposal.
