Commissioners approve many recreation fee changes, but keep therapeutic camp rates unchanged

Recreation and parks fee proposals and program changes were a major topic at the March 10 work session. Department staff and advisory‑board representatives presented multiple fee proposals, and commissioners approved a number of them while asking for follow‑up on others.

Art Shepherd, director of Recreation & Parks, reviewed proposed increases to season passes, green fees and facility rental rates at Wicomico Shores golf course. Shepherd and staff argued the increases were needed to align county pricing with the market, cover higher hourly staffing costs and reduce subsidies. Commissioners expressed concern about undercutting private nearby courses such as Breton Bay; staff said Breton Bay had adjusted its pricing and the county’s fees remained competitive. The board signaled support for the proposed golf increases and related season‑pass adjustments scheduled to take effect for next fiscal cycles.

On childcare and special‑needs programming commissioners focused on therapeutic camp fees. Staff proposed increases justified by program costs and outside funding sources (DSS, public schools, Arc of Southern Maryland and scholarship resources). Several commissioners worried about raising the fee for families; after discussion the board decided not to increase therapeutic camp fees and to rely on existing scholarship resources and third‑party funding to ensure access.

Commissioners approved several other recreation proposals with direction from the board: increase the youth sports participation fee from $5 to $6 to help cover growing public‑safety and facility demands; approve the proposed higher rates for special events, class registration and season passes noted in the packet; and direct staff to develop a uniform resident/nonresident rate schedule for waterfront parks, pavilions and leisure‑special programs and return with statistics showing nonresident use levels.

Staff also proposed a limited, one‑day‑per‑week free access pilot at the Nicolette Spray Park (noon–4 p.m.) to provide low‑cost access for neighbors; commissioners supported the pilot and asked staff to return with estimated staffing costs (approximately $1,500 reported) and logistics. The board asked staff to provide utilization and out‑of‑county participation data to inform potential nonresident surcharges and to return with revised fee sheets at the next scheduled meeting.