Michigan City Parks Board lowers junior golf fee to $40, approves soccer-in-the-sand license

The Michigan City Parks and Recreation Board on May 20 voted to reduce the fee for its 2026 junior golf program from the published $100 per child to $40 and approved the 2026 Soccer-in-the-Sand license agreement.

Board discussion on the junior golf program centered on affordability and enrollment. Staff described the camp as providing 45 minutes of instruction plus 15 minutes on the course, ending with a cookout and a friendly skills competition; the packet lists five sessions. The published fee was $100 per child, but board members argued a lower price would attract more participants. A committee member moved to amend the fee to $40 per child; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The motion to set the fee to $40 was made by Committee member and seconded by Superintendent (as recorded in the meeting transcript). The board did not provide a recorded roll-call tally.

The board approved the 2026 Soccer-in-the-Sand license agreement as written, with staff recommending a 10% registration fee consistent with other park tournaments. Organizers had requested a 5% fee for the first year, but the board voted to keep the 10% fee.

The transcript contains an inconsistency in the golf-camp dates: staff listed a start date of Tuesday, 06/16/2026 and also read an end date as Tuesday, June 14; board members said they would confirm the schedule. The program ages and times in the packet were provided for three age groups and session times; the board discussed lowering the fee to attract more children, noting that fee revenue is retained by the parks department rather than the golf pro.

Board members and staff also discussed related operational matters during the meeting: the superintendent reported heavy demand at the parks sticker office since enforcement began and noted that online registration should reduce in-person lines; the director reported increased Memorial Hall rentals and that shelter bookings are filling through October. The superintendent also reported vandalism to an electrical panel at Adams Park that left field lighting unusable and would be costly to repair or require replacement with a new system.

What happens next: the board-approved fee change and license agreement were adopted by voice vote at the May 20 meeting. Staff said they will confirm the junior golf schedule and continue registration and program preparation under the new fee.

Quotes: "I'd like to see as many kids out there as we could," said a Committee member urging a lower fee to encourage participation. "We are forming three different lines" and staff are doubling up at the sticker office to reduce wait times, Superintendent said when describing the new systems.

Provenance: Topic covered in meeting transcript SEG 127 through SEG 265.