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Irving parks staff recommend 'play pass' and study nonresident rates as new Center Park aquatic opens
Summary
Parks staff presented a 'play pass' system and recommended holding proposed resident rates while studying nonresident pricing ahead of Mustang's opening; council heard concerns that seniors and fixed‑income residents could be harmed by fee increases and discussed capacity and revenue implications for newly planned facilities.
Parks and Recreation staff on Thursday recommended rolling out a systemwide 'play pass' membership tied to the new Center Park aquatic facility and asked the City Council to delay large resident‑rate increases while focusing on a stronger nonresident rate before Mustang — a much larger regional facility — opens.
Joe Moses, director of Parks & Recreation, told the council the department’s operating expenditures are roughly $19.5 million annually while fees and program revenue total about $2.2 million. Moses said staff proposes to recognize seniors at age 60, which would move people ages 50–59 into the adult fee category and reviewed options for modest across‑the‑board fee increases (25% and 40%) and a larger benchmarked increase scenario.
Moses said the parks board recommended keeping the current bundled fee proposal for launch and using Center Park’s opening as a data point to study the impacts, especially on nonresident usage. He cautioned that fee modeling assumes membership sales remain constant and that increases could lower subscription rates.
Several council members emphasized managing capacity. Councilman Chris and others said Mustang, because of its size and draw, will require active nonresident pricing and operational controls (priority registration for residents, adjusted nonresident membership availability). Councilmember John asked for clarification that a la carte options remain available; Moses confirmed residents could still choose single‑service options.
Public speakers earlier in the meeting had urged the council not to raise recreation fees. Gretchen Brosh said recreational programming is essential for seniors and teens on fixed incomes and asked council to 'please consider this' before approving any increases. The parks presentation also noted temporary Center Park closures Sept. 1–Oct. 15 while crews complete work for the new indoor aquatic center and that many programming activities will relocate to Georgia Ferro Rec Center.
Staff recommended a phased approach: implement the play pass and proposed resident fees that accompany Center Park’s opening, monitor usage and revenue, then consider modest nonresident increases and additional adjustments before Mustang opens. The parks director said nonresident rates are a key lever to manage capacity and capture regional visitors who do not pay Irving taxes.
No fee ordinance was adopted at the work session; council provided policy direction to proceed with the play pass rollout and to return with refined nonresident‑rate options and capacity‑management recommendations before Mustang’s opening.
