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Park & Rec director cites increased program participation, proposes new revenue steps for arena and rink
Summary
Staff reported stronger-than-expected recreational revenues — summer programming and memberships drove gains — and proposed charging for open skate/open hockey, tightening membership discounts and pursuing rental and sponsorship revenue at the arena.
Park and recreation staff told Crookston council that recreational and facility fees outperformed budgets this year and outlined several revenue steps for 2026, including modest fee increases, charging for previously free uses, and better enforcement of contracts.
Scott (Parks & Recreation director) said recreational program fees rose sharply: “we brought in just short of $50,000 this year,” and recommended raising next year’s projection to reflect participation changes. He said increases stemmed from both higher participation and modest fee increases, but stressed that participation appeared to be the main driver.
On arena operations, Scott proposed charging for open skating and open hockey to generate ongoing revenue, and flagged that the Blue Line Club’s office rent had not been collected in recent years; he said a new contract and collection would restore a recurring revenue stream. He also suggested charging for open court use and discussing annual agreements with youth-sports organizations to offset operating costs.
Councilors asked staff to return with specific fee proposals, comparative rates from nearby communities and options to protect participation while increasing revenue. Staff said they would negotiate contracts (including a new UMC arena contract) and present revenue estimates for any proposed fees.
