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Connersville staff proposes parking and rental fee changes after $48,000 cut; cabana rentals planned
Summary
After staff said the parks budget was reduced by $48,000, the Connersville Parks and Recreation Board discussed higher rental rates, new cabana and food-truck fees, and revised pool-party pricing; changes require Board of Works and City Council approval and will return for vote in February.
Connersville — Parks staff presented a proposed update to the park fee schedule at the Jan. 26 Parks Board meeting to address a $48,000 reduction in the department’s budget and to add several new user fees and rental options.
According to meeting materials and staff discussion, proposed changes include revised hourly and weekend rates for the Miller building (proposed $45/hour weekday, $65/hour weekend and holidays) and an increase of $5 to weekend Roberts building rentals (proposed $75/hr weekend and holidays), a new cabana-rental option ($50/day, $25/half-day), food-truck/site fees ($75/day, $100/weekend), horse-barn fees ($50/day with a $150 deposit), and updated pool-party pricing (reducing the base from four hours to two hours at $250 with $100 per extra hour). The draft also removes swim lessons from the pool-party package and adds cabana rules to the Roberts Park Family Aquatic Center policy.
Parks Superintendent Marla Steele described plans for two pool cabanas being constructed by the Whitewater Valley Career Center building trades class and said sponsorships for the cabanas will be used to reinvest revenue into pool improvements. Steele said the department pays for Red Cross lifeguard certification and has scheduled a recertification class for April 19 in preparation for the 2026 pool season.
Board members and staff noted that the fee schedule changes are recommendations and must be approved by the Board of Works and then City Council before taking effect. Because the Jan. 26 meeting did not include a public forum, the board will return the proposed ordinance and the Roberts Park policy update to the February agenda for public comment and formal action.
The board also confirmed summer programs and events, such as an Easter Egg Drop scheduled for March 28 and youth-sports timelines; Parks Sports Director Logan Neukam reminded residents that coaches and referees for spring soccer are volunteer positions and provided contact information for interested volunteers.
