The Franklin City Park Board on Feb. 20 approved revisions to its 2025 fees and charges after staff reported falling rental demand for some facilities and proposed lower, more granular rates for community garden plots and new rental categories for the city’s forthcoming active adult center.

Park Board Chair called the vote after a staff presentation; the motion passed by voice vote with all members responding “Aye.” The board also approved routine items earlier in the meeting including past meeting minutes, February claims and the human resources report.

Board staff summarized why the fee changes were proposed. Chip (staff member) told the board that room rentals at the recreation center have fallen roughly 50 percent compared with previous years for some users, and that a recent fee increase had “priced people out”: “People that were consistent renters with us … we priced them out,” Chip said, explaining the drop in repeat reservations. He noted pool rentals and whole-facility pool bookings also declined after the new price moved totals into a higher perceived bracket.

To respond, staff recommended rolling back roughly seven adjustments made in November and adopting several new, more detailed fees. For the community garden (the renovated site at South Street and South Main Street), staff proposed separate charges so more people can rent the site’s 30 raised beds: $25 for one raised bed, $40 for two raised beds and $30 for a traditional in-ground plot. Chip said the garden received about 30 reservation inquiries in 30 days — roughly triple usual demand — and the new structure is intended to expand access.

Staff also proposed weekend and weekday rental rates for the new active adult center, which is due to open in July. The board was shown recommended rates for a “great room” (the main community room with a full kitchen), an adjoining auditorium that seats about 120 and an outdoor patio with a small stage. Staff said the weekend rate for the great room would be higher than weekdays and that the auditorium would be offered as an add-on for larger events (examples given included weddings and performing-arts rentals). Chip described the active adult center as a flexible revenue source intended to help cover operating costs for the new facility.

The board heard additional department briefings. Staff reported a roughly $100,000 budgeted playground planned for a nearby park with accessible equipment. The Redevelopment Commission recently approved purchase of property north of Scott Park (off Commerce Drive) as the first step in a long-running plan to expand Scott Park; staff said the acquisition should reduce on-street parking and traffic problems around the existing park and allow a comprehensive redesign that could include multiple outdoor fields, pickleball courts or an additional dog park.

On finance, staff walked the board through the parks’ fund and appropriation reports and pointed to account 4443, the park impact fee fund, holding $194,366. Chip said park impact fees are collected at the building-permit stage when new houses are built and that state or local rules limit how the fund may be used: the money can be applied only to new capital improvements and planning, not to employee salaries or routine replacement of existing facilities. Staff said the board will update the park impact fee study with Jeff Peters and Associates (estimated cost about $18,000) and expects the city council to consider the revised fee later this year; if approved, a new fee would take effect the following June after a six-month waiting period.

Board members also discussed long-term capital needs. Staff reminded the board that the park bond program that funded earlier projects, including the aquatic center updates, is nearing the end of its cycle and will need consideration in coming months. Chip noted the current outdoor pool was built in 1985 and that pools and similar facilities have useful lives often measured in decades; “we need to renovate the one we have to make it last at least a minimum of another 15 years,” Chip said. The recreation center, built in 1999, will also need targeted renovations to extend its service life.

The board approved the fee revisions and asked staff to report back in a month or two on whether the changes affect bookings. The meeting closed after routine department and financial reports and a motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance
- Approve minutes from Jan. 9, 2025 — motion moved/seconded on the record; outcome: approved by voice vote (all present answered “Aye”).
- Approve February claims — approved by voice vote (all present answered “Aye”).
- Approve human resources report — motion and second recorded on the transcript; outcome: approved by voice vote (all present answered “Aye”).
- Approve revisions to 2025 fees and charges (including community garden fees and active adult center rental rates) — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by voice vote (all present answered “Aye”).
- Adjourn meeting — approved by voice vote (all present answered “Aye”).

What this means next
Staff will implement the revised fees, begin rental operations for the active adult center in advance of a July opening (rentals expected to begin March 1), and return to the board with an update on revenue trends. The board will also participate in an updated park impact fee study and will engage on decisions tied to an upcoming parks bond and capital-replacement priorities.